1 Peter 2
From the heart of
the pastor:
“If when
you do what is right and suffer for it you
patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
For you have been called for this purpose, since
Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an
example for you to follow in His steps” (I Pe.
2:20f.).
Doing right does not
necessarily occasion suffering. Nonetheless,
when doing right does result in suffering,
Christians are summoned to patiently endure
their suffering. When Christians patiently
endure suffering for doing right, God is
pleased. The Christian’s unrivalled desire is
to please to God.
Christians are
called to suffer for righteousness and patiently
endure their suffering. Jesus is the model for
all willing to do right and suffer for doing
right. Jesus fulfilled all righteousness for
you and suffered for you. His fulfillment and
suffering secured your salvation and your
ability to be sanctified (Heb. 13:12).
Are you willing to
follow in His steps? Remember that following in
Jesus’ steps pleases God. Why is God so pleased
when you patiently endure suffering for doing
right? Your patient endurance of suffering for
doing right is the evidence of your new birth,
your new character and your transformed mind.
When you respond so distinctly different from
the normal worldly response, people take
notice. In the press of life, you are gifted
with the illustrious opportunity to bring glory
to God by exampling the character of the Christ
who has not walked on this earth in nearly two
thousand years.
Paul did what was
right and patiently endured suffering. He not
only patiently endured suffering, he joyfully
endured suffering. Paul was placed in a Roman
prison because his preaching of the gospel
disrupted his culture. Nevertheless, he
declared, “My imprisonment in the cause of
Christ has become well known throughout the
whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and
that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord
because of my imprisonment, have far more
courage to speak the word of God without fear”
(Phil. 1:13f.).
How much did Jesus
suffer for you? He bore your sins in His body
on the cross. Why did Jesus suffer for you?
That you might die to sin and live to
righteousness for it was only by His suffering
that you could be healed of sin’s eternal
ruinous wage (I Pe. 2:24).
Are you willing to
suffer unjustly in order to bring God glory?
Are you willing to suffer unjustly in order to
bring many lost souls to God’s saving grace?
Are you willing to suffer unjustly in order to
bring other Christians into a progressively
transforming relationship with the God they
profess to love?
The patient
endurance of suffering for righteous conduct is
part of the Christian package. “To you it has
been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to
believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake”
(Phil. 1:29).
SOLI DEO GLORIA!
