The text in front of us today is a brief instruction on how to be a faithful leader. Leadership is tough; it can be lonely, frustrating and downright discouraging in some seasons. But leadership can also be fulfilling, exciting and downright exhilarating. In leadership you often have a front row seat to some of the most horrific things in people’s lives, but you also have a front row seat to some of the most miraculous things in people’s lives.

Suffering for being a Christian seems to be the theme of our passage today. It is not an easy topic to address in the culture we live in. It is not easy to address because there is a massive disconnect between the suffering we experience in America and the suffering that the biblical audience experienced or even the suffering that Christians have experienced all over the world.

In this passage, the apostle Peter issues a call to Christians everywhere to live in such a way that their prayers are unleashed by self-control and sober minded thoughtfulness; they are to overcome sin by loving one another vigorously as they invite and welcome even the dirtiest of society into relationship without complaining; they are to be faithful stewards of God’s gracious gifts as they speak for God, serve in God’s strength and bring attention to God in Christ as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Here is how Peter says it…

The passage we have in front of us today has been referred to as the most controversial passage in all of Scripture. Martin Luther commented that this passage is “A wonderful text… a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the [New] Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means… I cannot understand and I cannot explain it. And there has been no one who has explained it”.²

The passage we are looking at today is addressed to wives and husbands. Therefore, it seems appropriate to share a little bit of Christy and I’s journey in marriage with you in hopes that it will set the stage well for what the Lord wants to say to us this morning. Christy and I have been married for almost nineteen years now. For nearly two decades we have journeyed through the highways and the byways of life together. We have given a significant portion of our lives to raising seven children and all of those nineteen years have been given to serving the Lord in ministry together. But Christy and I did not meet each other nineteen years ago…

What do you think it means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus? You do not need to be a rocket scientist to interpret what Peter’s instructions are in this text. His instructions are simple: Follow in Christ’s footsteps. Practice honorable conduct. Submit to human government. Do good in the sight of God and men. Submit to unjust masters. When in doubt, follow the example of Christ. Why? Because, if you are a Christian, then Jesus has saved you and he continues to watch over your soul.

I entitled this message “The War Against Your Soul” because Peter uses a similar phrase in verse 11 of our text. It is no secret that I am a fighter. Most people who know me well know that I do not retreat, surrender or give up without a good reason. When I am under pressure, I can be slow to listen, quick to speak and quick to anger (just the opposite of James 1:19 – 20). This happens when I feel unwanted, cast aside or helpless and it’s an indicator of the war against my soul.

I want you to think about something special that you own. Maybe it’s something that was given to you or handed down to you or made for you by someone that is special to you. Or maybe the special thing you own is something that resembles a special experience or a special memory in your life; it reminds you of that special season or special memory.