Monday 7 September 2026

Psalm 119:17-32

Background
This week, we’ll be spending several days in the company of 1 Peter. I’ll be drawing on a series of Bible studies created by Professor Judith Lieu, designed to help Methodists to reflect on our understanding of ministry in all its forms. The full resources can be found on the Methodist Church’s website, here.

As Professor Lieu points out, "All we know about to whom, when, and why 1 Peter was written comes from the letter itself." 1 Peter 1:1 tells us that the author is writing to "the exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia" (1:1) – an enormous area in modern-day Turkey.

The writer was keen to encourage these scattered Christian communities, who were facing social pressure, marginalisation, and sometimes hostility as a result of their faith in Jesus. He urged them to cling to their faith and the values it instilled in them, even if these were wildly counter-cultural, because "if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed" (v. 14).

This passage touches on a great many weighty subjects (evangelism, suffering, baptism, salvation…) but one of the most striking aspects is the first sentence: "Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?" (v. 13) This sentence is perhaps intended to be ironic, as the author then goes on to acknowledge that his readers may well be suffering abuse as a result of their actions, which are motived by their faith (v. 16).

Today, when extreme views are shared frequently on social media, and politics often seems to be driven by fear and selfishness, the desire to ‘do what is good’ is no guarantee of protection. I am a member of Amnesty International, and we routinely see cases of people imprisoned for speaking out against injustice, for championing women’s rights, or simply for sharing information. And in this country, our fundamental right to peaceful protest is disappearing as a result of the new anti-protest powers under the 2022 Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act and 2023 Public Order Act. Some Christians I know have been arrested for protesting peacefully in an attempt to protect the rights of vulnerable people – for being eager to do what is good.

To Ponder:

• Can you think of any ways that Christians you are aware of might suffer harm because they are eager to do what is good?
• The author of 1 Peter sought to encourage his readers. What encourages you today, when faith isn’t easy?
• Verses 21 and 22 go on to talk about baptism. If you’re interested in finding out more, you can do so here.

Bible notes author: The Revd Naomi Oates
Naomi is a Methodist minister, currently serving in four churches across five communities in the North Kent Circuit. When not being rugby-tackled by her two young children, she enjoys cycling, baking and reading Golden Age detective fiction (although not all at the same time).