We will suffer for doing what is good. When that happens, God instructs us to follow Jesus’ example and take our suffering patiently – never letting the persecutions shift our focus (Philippians 3:13-14, Colossians 3:1-4), not allowing it to cause us to talk like the world through complaints and threats, but instead wholly trust in God, in His commands, and in His promises (Hebrews 11:6), just as Jesus did (Hebrews 12:2)!
Jesus (1 Peter 2:21-23):
- committed no sin
- no deceit found in His mouth
- when He was reviled, did not revile in return
- when He suffered He did not threaten
- He committed himself to God who judges righteously
Following in Jesus’ steps, you and I:
- do our very best to avoid sin by walking prayerfully and carefully (Ephesians 5:1-17)
- do our very best to know the Truth (John 8:31-32), speak the truth (Ephesians 4:25, 29-32), and live the truth without hypocrisy (Luke 6:46-49, Titus 1:16). We respect God enough to represent Him properly to the world in all that we do.
- do not throw insult back at insult (Colossians 3:8-10, 12-15)
- do not threaten to repay hurt (Romans 12:17-21)
- remember that God sees all and knows all – He is the righteous Judge; He truly knows who is at fault. We trust in His help, care, and comfort (Hebrews 4:16, 1 Peter 5:6-7, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7)!
To this we were called. Knowing this, let us prepare ourselves by daily putting on the armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), prayerfully making our requests known to God with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-7), spend time meditating on what is true, just, and noble (Philippians 4:8), and filling our minds/hearts with His truth (2 Timothy 3:16-17), so we are always ready to give a defense for our hope, with meekness and with fear (1 Peter 3:15)!
You can do it! So can I!!
Thank you for this good reminder Cathy!
ReplyDeleteI'm always encouraged to do better when I red your blogs!!!
Sharon M.