“For
it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust
suffering because they are conscious of God.” (1 Peter 2:19 NIV)
In
his letter, the Apostle Peter gives an exhortation to people who were
probably household servants in that day, but it applies to all of us as
we interact with those who might be over us as a boss or an employer.
The servants are advised by Peter to submit to their masters; and as
Christians, we probably wouldn’t have much of a problem with that. But
Peter takes it further and says that we are to submit, not only to those
in authority over us who are good and considerate, but also to those
who are harsh! Let’s face it:
No one wants to
suffer an insult or to be chastised or punished; but to suffer this at
the hands of someone who is mean-spirited and unjust goes way beyond
what anyone would be willing to do. When a person is rude and unjust,
every natural reaction is to strike back. But Peter says, “Don’t do
that!” Why? Because if you bear up under unjust suffering; if you take
it quietly and keep a sweet spirit because you’re conscious of God and
you want to please him, knowing that your life is in his hands, this is
commendable. It’s as a precious offering to God.
Why are we able to call ourselves Christians and children of the Most
High God? Because when Jesus was falsely accused, mocked, beaten, and
crucified, he didn’t lash back. He could have called ten thousand
angels, but instead, he went through with the punishment that you and I
deserved and “bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might
die to sins and live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24).
Neither you nor I would be an heir of salvation today if Jesus had
reacted to the insults and to the unjust and cruel treatment he received
at the hands of sinners. He is our example, and we are called to
follow in his footsteps. Is this possible in the natural? No! Is it
possible with the help of the Holy Spirit? Yes! Let’s ask the Lord to
help us be pleasing to him in every interaction we have.
Read 1 Peter 2:18-25.