Enabled and Motivated

Introduction

For centuries, scientists have argued that for every action, there is a reaction. In Physics, I am told that this is called the Law of Causality or the Law of Cause and Effect. There are certain understandings that the cause must be adequate enough to produce the reaction.

One writer states, that “The mass of a paper clip is not going to provide sufficient gravitational pull to cause a tidal wave. There must be an adequate cause for the tidal wave, like a massive, offshore, underwater earthquake (“Tsunamis,” 2000, p. 1064). Leaning against a mountain will certainly not cause it to topple over. Jumping up and down on the ground will not cause an earthquake.”

While our purpose this morning is not to provide a discussion about this scientific law per say, but I will state that there is a spiritual cause and effect that happens to those that are Christians.

Our study of Peter continues this idea of holy living and in today’s passage, we see this spiritual law of cause and effect come into play.

1 Peter 3:15–22 NIV84

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

We have previously seen in this Epistle that we are indeed called to a different way of life. We are called to be the example of Christ, submitting to the Lord in all we do, and allowing Him who judges justly to take care of our needs. We have learned that is it about being living stones, a holy priesthood, and we are called to a life of holiness.

As I have studied the book meditating on each word and read numerous commentaries from different perspectives, I have been in awe over two words that I read in the commentary of my study Bible: ENABLES and MOTIVATES.

In fact, here is the quote:

“Christ’s atonement enables and motivates us to moral living.”

Let’s look closer as how this statement is so true for us and gives you and me in this spiritual law of causality.

Because of the Atonement of Christ, I can choose His way or my way.

Verse 15 gives me the instruction:

1 Peter 3:15 NIV84

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

You see, as I have said in previous messages from Peter’s epistle, it begins with me making a decision to submit to the Lord!

What are some things we set?

We set an alarm clock to get up at the right time.

I can set my heart.

The volleyball players strategically bump a volleyball to set a teammate in the position for a spike.

We set our cruise control in our cars to hopefully maintain safe speeds.

We set our GPS coordinates to chart our courses to timely arrive to our destination.

Here, Peter tells us in our hearts, set apart Christ as Lord.

The center of our being, the very essence of who we are. That is our HEART in biblical terms. Through the ATONEMENT of CHRIST, we are called from our inner most beings to set apart Christ as Lord.

By doing so, we are enabled to give answers for the HOPE we have and we are enabled to do so with gentleness and respect!

You are intentionally causing spiritual effects to happen!

In turn, we also get to keep a clear conscience when the naysayers start their whining!

In verse 17, we see Peter once again make an argument for suffering for the Lord.

Sometimes we feel we should be free of suffering. Did you happen to see our new verso of the month?

James 1:12 NIV84

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Peter recognizes that our suffering is absolutely no comparison to that which Christ withstood for me and you!

Can you imagine? Remember, this is the same Peter that one moment was willing to fight for Jesus and a few hours later, he was acting if he had no idea who Jesus was. How many times are you and me like that? We get all fired up about who Jesus is and what Jesus has done for us then when we have suffer just a little bit, we get all bent out of shape and start whining and complaining!

Peter in the passage refers to Noah and some of what he went through on an ark in a flood after 40 days and nights of continuous rain. The Bible is full of how water cleanses and purifies.

When I was on staff at Lees-McRae College, I was the Associate Dean of Students. My office was flooded not once, by twice. Not by continuous rains, but by a faulty sprinkler system that burst in my office and the office beside me. Because of my role, when an emergency arose on campus, I was the first to be called. I remember going into my office once the water had been turned off. It was estimated that 20,000 gallons of water went through there. My books, my diplomas, all the judicial files from student conduct cases were floating down the hall.....everything in my office was soaked except for one thing. This bible was on my desk and there were not one drop on it.

You see, I had made a choice that I was going to have the word of God close to me…both in my heart and close to me physically on my desk. I was enabled to work with students and have great discussions about the truths of God’s word. But don’t you know, that when I saw this copy of God’s word on my desk, dry and completely in tact, it motivated me to share that story. I was able to share it that night to the maintenance staff, one of which was a self proclaimed atheist.

You see, when we set apart our hearts as Lord, we are enabled to share the hope that we have in Christ. We are able to do so with gentleness and respect, and even have a clear conscience when the naysayers come out.

We are able to recognize that our Lord suffered much for us. That enables me to understand that my sins are atoned for, I am redeemed, I am forgiven and it motivates me to share the truths of the scripture with others. It fires me up and compels me to study more and more so that I can share with you the truth of God’s word!

It makes me understand that I am saved by the power of Christ! When I was nine years old, I asked Jesus into my heart. A few weeks later, I was baptized by immersion in front of my church family. The pastor, Dr Billy T Mobley, put that hankerchief over my mouth, lowered me into the waters of that baptismal pool and said buried with Christ, risen by the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Baptisms are so fun.

I have baptized in the Atlantic Ocean, the gulf of Mexico, ponds and rivers.

I had one kid that did a cannonball in on me! Splashed the choir! Needless to say, he got held under a little longer. It is not the baptism that saves you. It is as Peter says in verse 21, “the pledge of good conscience toward God.” It other words, it is SETTING YOUR HEART APART AS CHRIST IS LORD.

It enables us. It motivates us.

It becomes a concentric circle that keeps going. Just like a ripple in a pond…it keeps on going! I am convinced that as we become a church in which we set apart Christ as Lord…we will be enabled and motivated.