Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. *19*For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. *20*For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. *21*For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. *22*He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. *23*When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
1 Pe 2:18–23.
What a challenging set of verses. They reminds us that we should display Godly conduct, and that we can truly be like Christ in a practical way. How? - We must get on with our daily tasks faithfully and considerately no matter how we are treated. It should bear no impact on our conduct even if we are mistreated ourselves. If we are slandered, we should bear with it, even if we are beaten we should endure. That sounds incredibly hard if not impossible. Yet it is in those moments when we have the opportunity to be more like Christ. To display to the world something of who God is.
Jesus, we know, did no wrong. He was perfect in every way. He bore with people beating him, spitting at him, saying all kinds of lies about him, twisting his words, whipping him and eventually murdering him. Even to the very point of dying he did not retaliate. He submitted to the maltreatment of others in order for God to be glorified. That’s why he is our saviour!
I don’t expect that God would wants us to endure the many things Christ did, but sometimes it can feel like we are under incredible stress and suffering. You may be innocent, but suffering at the hands of others. So did Jesus. He endured, he persisted, he maintained his own sense of righteousness. Jesus did not let others dictate his behaviour or actions. He knew what he had to do and kept on doing it. He maintained his sense of self and his trust in the Father. Can you do the same?
Who knows what God’s ultimate plan is in your current suffering? Jesus didn’t want to go through the suffering he did, yet he knew that whatever happened to him, God would ultimately be glorified. He trusted God above all things.; above his friends, family and circumstances. He knew God had a plan. God also has a plan for you. It will be for His glory. It will be for the benefit of the kingdom. For now, you are called to endure the difficulties and display who Jesus is. Don’t Loe your cool, go on a rampage or scream how unfair it all is, although it may well be, remember who your saviour is and who you are called to imitate.
You are not called to retaliate, or to dish out, as our kids like to call it, ‘payback’. Jesus did not retaliate and he has told us not to either - there should be no ‘payback’! Our kids were astounded, shocked and I think a bit aggrieved when we read this - The very thing we want to do and it feels right and fair to do, we are told not to! Jesus didn’t do it and nor should we. Jesus endured. Jesus forgave. Jesus entrusted his situation and suffering, ‘to him who judges justly.’
Jesus knew that whatever happened to him, it would be for good in the end. Jesus trusted, ‘him who judges justly. - Will you do the same?
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