There Are Bees in that Book

by Terry Wane Benton

First Peter is a wonderful, inspired book with about 10-11 “be” admonitions buzzing around throughout it.

1. Be sober (I Peter 1:13; 5:8) calls upon us to be clearheaded and unimpeded in our focus on our spiritual and eternal mission. Needless to say, people choose to impair clear thinking with alcohol, drugs, prejudice, or even undiscerning and worldly thinking. We need to be sober people!
2. Be holy (I Peter 1:15). This means being separate from the world and righteous like God. We must ensure we are transformed and don’t conform to the world (Romans 12:1-4).
3. Be submissive (I Peter 3:1; 5:5). This means we are ready to yield to all that is honorable and shows honor to others. We are not control freaks and pushy people. This characteristic is beautiful and attractive. We should not be known for a self-centered “me first” attitude. Humility is not being weak and walked on, but being willing to honor others where honor is due. Be submissive. It shows you respect others! To be respected, we must show how it should be displayed!
4. Be tenderhearted (I Peter 3:8). Tender in heart means feeling compassion for others, putting yourself in their circumstances, and having a heart of empathy. Everyone carries burdens and challenges. Are you cold and indifferent? Can you feel for others?

These are four admonitions on how we need to “be” in character: Be sober, holy, submissive, and tenderhearted. Of all the goals we might have in this life, these are the ones we need to focus our energy on and bring into our state of being. Are we known for these things? Move them from the book into the mind, mindset, and character of how to live.

Scanning the book of I Peter for more "Be" admonitions gracing the book, we are challenged regarding our greater influence and usefulness in God's house. Here are a few more:

5. Be Courteous (I Peter 3:8). Courtesy costs us nothing, but it is much better than coldness, self-centeredness, and indifference to other human beings made in God’s image and who could use a little thoughtful kindness. Think of the small things that you can do, such as lending a helping hand or just speaking to someone. Most people can appreciate courtesy! Open a door, let someone in your lane, give a generous tip, say “good morning” or “have a blessed day.” Be courteous! God can use a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple to open a door for the Word!
6. Be Ready to Give an Answer (I Peter 3:15). The more you are prepared to give a reason for your hope with meekness and fear, the more you grow, and the deeper and richer you become, and you become a channel of blessing to some poor soul living aimlessly and hopelessly. This takes studying to "show yourself approve unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).
7. Be Serious (I Peter 4:7). We see people who are too serious about sports and not nearly serious enough about their faith in Jesus. The one thing that should stand out is that we hold faith in Jesus in all seriousness. We believe this life and the next depends on the quality and depth of our faith in Him. Be serious about growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Your soul and the souls of your loved ones depend on how serious you really are.
8. Be Hospitable (I Peter 4:9). The word is akin to “hospital," a place of care and service to people with physical needs. We can be smaller versions of care for people’s needs in other ways, especially in the care for their heart (center of their mental being). We are to be emotional burden lifters and soul rescuers. We see beneath the physical appearance a person with inward struggles. Hospitality means we become resources for inner encouragement and strength. We care, so we take care to offer time and an ear. It can be at our place or take someone out to eat. Hospital care places for people’s inner needs is what we need to “be”!
9. Be Clothed with Humility (I Peter 5:5). Humility decorates you. It protects you from attitudes and actions of pride and arrogance and that condescending, stuck-up air of superiority that repels people. Humility makes you seem approachable and safe to be around when all another person seeks is a kind reception. We need to exalt others over ourselves. This is beautiful clothing for the spirit of anyone.

   Do you remember being shunned by people who seemed clothed with a false sense of superiority? They were clothed with pride, and it was repulsive. You remember those feelings to this day. But you also remember people clothed with humility, which made them accessible for help and friendship. We need this clothing of the spirit we want to possess.

10. Be Vigilant (I Peter 5:8). Be careful, watchful for dangers, and alert to opportunities you will seize immediately. We must be on the lookout for dangers of the soul, dangers to our priorities and moral principles, and golden opportunities to step in and lead someone to Christ, teaching them the good news, the gospel of Christ. Vigilance should be a characteristic that stands out about us. Too many lost opportunities are due to not being vigilant.

I would close these points with one more. It is making all of the other ten “be” admonitions a discipline so that we can “Be Glad” when His glory is revealed (I Peter 4:13). He will be revealed one day. If we work to the end of being ready when He is revealed, we will be purifying our souls (I John 3:1-3) in that hope. We will be so glad when He is revealed. We will be ready to see Him as He is and ready to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your Lord!” We purify our attitudes, our behavior, our character so that there is no regret. We want this “Be” to drive all the other “Be” admonitions into our mindset until it clothes us and becomes our character. Be glad at the end because you labored diligently with these bees!