1 Peter 2:21 NLT
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
This verse is one that, I believe, we need to bury deep into our minds and hearts.
The day is approaching, where we are going to be called on to renounce our beliefs. If you take a few minutes and turn on the news, you can see it every night. Because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we will be insulted, and we will suffer.
The good news, Jesus shows us what we need to do when this does end up happening to us.
We do not retaliate.
We do not explain.
We do not complain.
We do not excuse it.
Being a Christian, our faith will need to be in God because He is a just God. Our lives are in His hands now and will be for eternity.
This is our response to any injustice that we may suffer:
1 Peter 3:9 NLT
Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.
And how we respond to these situations will also show us where our hearts are:
Galatians 1:10 NLT
Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.
The reality is that God asks us to live a quiet life, to live in a manner that glorifies God in every way.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NLT
Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.
But for some reason, we feel compelled to want to fix all of the ills of this world.
We point out everything that we feel is wrong as if there is some reward for doing this. I think in some way, it may give us a kind of self-righteousness, elevating ourselves over those engaged in inappropriate activity.
Matthew 7:5-6 NLT
Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.
For us who consider ourselves Christians, we need to conclude that God is working all things out, His way. And sometimes, when we insert ourselves and try to change things by our will and what we feel to be corrected, we end up suffering because of our impatience.
Lamentations 3:26 NLT
So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD.
Philippians 1:6 NLT
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Here’s the hope we should have as we live out this life:
God is working.
God is the one who does the saving.
God provides the faith and softens the hearts of those He has chosen.
God works in our hearts, creating the desire to obey His Word.
God gives us the strength to do His will, and this submission to Him will stand as an example to those around us.
God orchestrates events in our lives to help us learn the lessons that will prepare us for our lives in eternity.
Our job:
Put our faith in God through Jesus Christ and cast our cares on Him.
1 Peter 5:6-7 NLT
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Yor promises. Thank You for Your Word.
Thank You for giving us everything we need through Jesus Christ.
I pray that You give me the desire to lay my life down to You. Give me the strength and courage to cast my cares to You.
Help me to live my life in a manner that glorifies You in every way. And help me to look at those around me with the compassion of Jesus Christ.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray in His Holy name, Amen!! 🙏❤️
