Study Desk

So prepare your minds for service and have self-control. All your hope should be for the gift of grace that will be yours when Jesus Christ is shown to you.

Now that you are obedient children of God do not live as you did in the past. You did not understand, so you did the evil things you wanted.

You pray to God and call him Father, and he judges each person's work equally. So while you are here on earth, you should live with respect for God.

Through Christ you believe in God, who raised Christ from the dead and gave him glory. So your faith and your hope are in God.

Now that your obedience to the truth has purified your souls, you can have true love for your Christian brothers and sisters. So love each other deeply with all your heart.

So then, rid yourselves of all evil, all lying, hypocrisy, jealousy, and evil speech.

You also are like living stones, so let yourselves be used to build a spiritual temple—to be holy priests who offer spiritual sacrifices to God. He will accept those sacrifices through Jesus Christ.

This is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you and gave you an example to follow. So you should do as he did.

Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so we would stop living for sin and start living for what is right. And you are healed because of his wounds.

In the same way, you husbands should live with your wives in an understanding way, since they are weaker than you. But show them respect, because God gives them the same blessing he gives you—the grace that gives true life. Do this so that nothing will stop your prayers.

Do not do wrong to repay a wrong, and do not insult to repay an insult. But repay with a blessing, because you yourselves were called to do this so that you might receive a blessing.

but answer in a gentle way and with respect. Keep a clear conscience so that those who speak evil of your good life in Christ will be made ashamed.

Strengthen yourselves so that you will live here on earth doing what God wants, not the evil things people want.

Nonbelievers think it is strange that you do not do the many wild and wasteful things they do, so they insult you.

For this reason the Good News was preached to those who are now dead. Even though they were judged like all people, the Good News was preached to them so they could live in the spirit as God lives.

The time is near when all things will end. So think clearly and control yourselves so you will be able to pray.

Anyone who speaks should speak words from God. Anyone who serves should serve with the strength God gives so that in everything God will be praised through Jesus Christ. Power and glory belong to him forever and ever. Amen.

But be happy that you are sharing in Christ's sufferings so that you will be happy and full of joy when Christ comes again in glory.

So those who suffer as God wants should trust their souls to the faithful Creator as they continue to do what is right.

Be humble under God's powerful hand so he will lift you up when the right time comes.