This is Peter speaking to everyone about how to serve Jesus: 1 Pet 1:1-2 (NIV) Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. No one starts off winning against those things that their body, the world, or the devil send their way. But, Jesus has a plan for major victory.

Acts 2:40-42 (NIV) With many other words he (Peter) warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. These weren’t just people, they were hurting, suffering people who needed what Jesus had to offer; Peter was able to give them the answer.

Acts 4:4 (NIV) But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. With Jesus training you, your issues and problems in life get handled and healed. His supernatural power and provisions do what nothing else could have done for you. As you see what Jesus is capable of, you will be able to see that this is what everyone needs. If you will look back at all the things you have tried, you will see that Jesus is what you need to be sharing with others.

Acts 5:14 (NIV) Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. People tell their friends what Jesus did for them; and, those people tell their friends. The more you are blessed and helped by Jesus, the more you have to share with those around you. It’s a win/win situation. As Jesus blesses you, it helps you become a blessing to other people. This is how Christianity has spread from Jesus to you.

1 Pet 4:1 (NIV) Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. Jesus suffered for you so you could have an awesome life. When you use love to resist doing wrong, bad, and evil things, sometimes it causes you pain, sometimes it causes you inconvenience, sometimes it causes you the loss of a relationship, and sometimes it causes you to lose financial resources. But, do it anyway!

1 Pet 4:2 (NIV) As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. Peter was living this earthly life for evil human desires, when Jesus found him. Peter then set you an example of using his love for Jesus to resist these things. Through Jesus’ training, power, and relationship, Peter was able to win over his body, the world, and the devil. Now he is encouraging you to resist through a love for Jesus.

1 Pet 4:3 (NIV) For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do--living in debauchery (excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures), lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. You gave debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry and a lot of other things your best efforts. Ask Jesus to help you see that whatever you tried in the things of sin didn’t work for you. Some of them gave you extreme pleasure; but, they addicted and enslaved you by taking away your life and your will.

1 Pet 4:4 (NIV) They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation (squandering all your benefits), and they heap abuse on you. Resistance through love consists of you not giving in to all the social pressures that come your way. Love requires that you be different from the crowd. But the crowd sees people who are different as being critical and judgmental of their behavior and lifestyle. So, they try to get you to conform.

1 Pet 4:5 (NIV) But they will have to give account to Him Who is ready to judge the living and the dead. You are making the right decisions. But the rightness of your life and the wrongness of their life won’t be fully revealed until Jesus judges the living and the dead. However, a lot of results, blessings, rewards, and successes will come to you now. Living according to the principles of the Bible will demonstrate the truth about how life should be lived.

This has been a look into the life-journey of Peter. You have been given a chance to walk with Jesus through the highlights of his life. Allow Jesus to help you see that even though there are tough times, He will make sure it all works out for your good. That is the difference with the Christian and the unsaved. The unsaved person doesn’t have God making the difficulties of their life work for their good. They have decided to run their own life; and, that makes them responsible for all the issues that come their way.