Hope for a Good Day

Summer is full of good days, in more ways than one. We have sun. 😊 Perhaps we visit friends and family more often.

In the previous post, I gave an example of hearing a concept more than once in different ways—a sign I should probably listen! In one of his letters, Paul wrote (in the context of Paul’s troubles and the troubles believers might face),

“… rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you” (Philippians 3:1).

Throughout Scripture, important ideas and themes are repeated to encourage God’s people.

Which is why it’s fine to slow down in this section of Peter and let God’s Words sink in.

As Peter addressed believers who would face suffering, even while doing good, he turned their thoughts back to a passage from David’s beautiful writing in Psalm 34.

“For,

‘Whoever would love life

and see good days

must keep their tongue from evil

and their lips from deceitful speech (1 Peter 3:10).

*When have you experienced God repeating something for your listening benefit?

*Why do you think Peter quoted this passage from Psalm 34?

*How does it fit with his message to believers? 

Peter encouraged his readers to delight in life.

• Love of life leads us to good days.
• “Life” as described here is a love and appreciation for the life God gives.¹
• Jason Gray has a great song ² about that.
• When we love the life God has given, we won’t only “see” good days, we will experience
• The word “good” here is interesting—it means benevolent, profitable, useful.
• Good for us and good for others. That’s what makes a good day—not that everything will go according to [our] plan.

*What is an example of when you have experienced a good day?

*What does God want us to do with the “life that we’ve been given”?

*How do you envision a “benevolent” day?

 How do we make sure this happens?

• Stop lying and refrain from evil speech.
• James and Paul gave us these practical applications—what not to do and what to do:

“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body…” (James 3:5-6a).

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).

• James captured these two extremes plainly when he reminded us,

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be” (James 3:9-10).

Peter used the same word for “lips” that the writer to the Hebrews used.³

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess His name” (Hebrews 13:15).

In Peter’s context, people talk randomly⁴ without regard for the truth, they think nothing of speaking falsely and deceiving others.⁵ Not only that, James wrote that they deceive themselves.

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless” (James 1:26).

We are quick to speak and slow to listen.

James exhorts us to do exactly the opposite.

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).

If we must speak, let it be to praise God and tell His story. This song(6) says it all.

*How can we experience good days?

*Why is what we say such an important part of God’s idea of “good”?

*How can we make positive words for others part of seeking good days?

*How can we speak to praise God and tell His story this week? 

 

1. Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D., The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament (Chattanooga, Tennessee: AMG Publishers, 1992), 704
2. “Good to Be Alive.” Track #4 on A Way to See in the Dark. Audio CD. Capitol Christian Music Group. Jason Gray. 2011.
3. Zodhiates, 1472
4. Zodhiates, 904
5. Zodhiates, 477
6. “My Story.” Track #2 on Beautiful Offerings. Studio album. Fervent Records/Word. Big Daddy Weave. 2015.