This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory.
2 Peter 3:1 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2pe.3.1.NLT
God's Word can stimulate my wholesome thinking by staying focused on it and keeping Him as the highest priority in my life.
Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
1 Peter 4:11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.4.11.NLT
I must use my gift of helping others to bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. I must help people with all my strength and energy.
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.
1 Peter 3:15-16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.3.15-16.NLT
I must put Jesus first in my life. I must be ready to explain my faith and do it in a good manner. I must treat Jesus as Lord of my life. He's not just a part of my life, He's the most important part of my life.
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.
1 Peter 3:8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.3.8.NLT
I need to sympathize with others. I also need to be kindhearted and keep a humble attitude. This is how I will be a good witness for Jesus.
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
1 Peter 2:21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.2.21.NLT
Following Jesus' example is hard. I must remember that He suffered for me so I must suffer for Him. Following His example is something that must prioritize and do good even when it's not the "popular" thing to do. While I don't suffer in America, I must still follow Christ's example.
Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
1 Peter 2:12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.2.12.NLT
People watch how I live so I should live properly among my neighbors. People will say bad things about me but even if they do, living properly, according to the Bible will show others that they are lying. I will be an example so that others will give honor to God when He judges the world.
I must remember that people are always watching how I live even if I never meet them. So I should live according to what God says is proper living.
So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.
1 Peter 1:14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.1.14.NLT
Don't fall back into my old ways to satisfy my own desires. I must be God's obedient child since I know better now that I follow Jesus.
