Living the Good Life (1 Peter 3:8-14)

When you hear the phrase “the good life,” what comes to mind?

Maybe it’s having more money in the bank.

Less stress.

A backyard grill and a good cup of coffee.

There’s nothing wrong with any of those things. But Peter shows us something deeper. He’s writing to believers who are trying to do good… and yet, life isn’t getting any easier.

Instead of giving them an escape plan, Peter reframes the conversation.

The good life isn’t always the easy life. But it can still be a beautiful one.

A Beautiful Life Starts with a Beautiful Heart

Peter writes:

“Be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” (1 Peter 3:8)

Living the good life begins with how we treat people.

Like-minded doesn’t mean we agree on everything—but it means we agree on what matters most.

Sympathetic and compassionate means we don’t just feel for people – we feel with them.

And humility? That’s the foundation. You can’t love others well when you’re obsessed with yourself.

Want to live a beautiful life? Start by cultivating a beautiful heart.

A Beautiful Life Doesn’t Fight Ugly with Ugly

Peter continues:

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing…” (1 Peter 3:9)

This is totally upside-down compared to our culture.

The world says: “Get even.”

Jesus says: “Respond with grace.”

That doesn’t mean you have to feel warm fuzzies. It doesn’t mean you ignore injustice. It means you respond with a different spirit.

When you do that, you become a doorway for God’s grace to enter the world.

A Beautiful Life Anchors Its Hope in God

Peter reminds us:

“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil… turn from evil and do good… seek peace and pursue it.” (1 Peter 3:10–11)

This is what it looks like to live God’s version of the good life:

• Watch your words.
• Do what’s right.
• Chase peace wherever you go.

But what if doing good gets you in trouble?

Peter says:

“Even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.” (1 Peter 3:14)

That kind of suffering is sacred.

It’s not a sign you’re doing something wrong. It may be the clearest sign that you’re following Jesus.

Don’t Give Up

Some of you reading this know exactly what it feels like to do the right thing—and still feel like life is falling apart.

Peter’s message? Don’t give up.

This is what it means to follow Jesus in a world that doesn’t always understand Jesus.

And if you need encouragement, remember how Jesus handled it:

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate… Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23)

You can do the same. Why? Because God will help you.

Living the good life isn’t about everything going right. It’s about living right—especially when things go wrong.

And that’s a life God calls beautiful.