1 Peter 2:17-25

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.  For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.  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.  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.  He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.  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.  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.  For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Suffering is to be expected in a fallen world.  Especially for those who do not live according to this world’s systems.  Satan and society are not pleased when we strive to march according to a different way than the way of the world.  Our godliness is offensive to them so they will do all they can to discourage us and try to drag us down to their level.  We must learn to stand firm and to help us with that, we have these reminders that will help us to stand firm in the face of suffering.

GOD IS GLORIFIED BY OUR SUFFERINGS: Servants are commanded to submit respectfully to their masters even when they are unjust.  Our sufferings that are brough about by our own sin and disobedience are to be expected.  When we suffer unjustly for doing what is right and good, God is honored and glorified in that grace.  Anything we do should be done with a mindfulness of God.  We should endure sufferings with an awareness that we are living for His glory and seeking to live a life that is pleasing to Him.  God calls us to be conscience of His presence and live intentionally as a member of His family.  Suffering for our own rebellion is not pleasing to Him but when we suffer for being obedient to the Lord it is a very gracious thing in the mind of God.

CHRIST IS EXEMPLIFIED IN OUR SUFFERINGS: Christians are supposed to be examples of the Lord Jesus.  When we suffer unjustly, we are simply following the example that Christ left for us.  Jesus is the only perfect example of unjust suffering because He never did anything wrong or deserving of sufferings.  We are all imperfect and deserving of eternal condemnation from God and any sufferings we might face on earth.  However, by God’s grace we can live lives that reflect the holiness of Christ in a fallen world.  When we do that, we are likely to face suffering.  A fallen world feels threatened by the integrity of believers.  Their response is usually persecution.  When that happens, we are exemplifying the sufferings of Christ who also suffered unjustly at the hands of a fallen world.

WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY HIS SUFFERINGS: The suffering of Christ is what makes possible our obedience and position of justification before God.  Our sin was placed on Him and He suffered in our place on the cross.  God forgives us based on our faith in the sacrifice Christ made on our behalf.  We were disobedient and had wandered far from the Lord.  Christ has taken our sin and restored us into a right relationship with the Father.  He suffered on our behalf and provided for our redemption with His blood.  No amount of suffering we could ever face can compare with the blessing of our salvation in Christ.

APPLICATION: Be prepared to suffer in a fallen world.  Don’t use the injustice of the world as an excuse for sin.  Be mindful of God’s glory as the purpose behind our obedience and suffering.  Be grateful that our sufferings have the purpose of pointing people to Christ.  Never forget the grace of God and the sufferings of Christ on our behalf.

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