In The Word
Read: 1 Peter 2:18-25
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person endures grief when suffering unjustly.20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
Christ Is Our Example
21 For you have been called for this purpose, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps, 22 He whocommitted no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23 and while being abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed. 25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Historically during this time, many Christians were household servants. They worked for other Christians that displayed Christ-like virtues, but many also worked for wayward people that were cruel and disrespectful to them. Peter writes to the believers in this situation to tell them to watch their reaction to the cruelty of their ungodly masters. Peter knew that others view the lives of believers with a microscope, and the behavior they display could be the only Jesus that their masters may see. God gets the glory in our Christ-like behavior, but unfortunately, He also gets the blame when we do not behave according to God’s ways.
Think about what causes you to behave in a way that does not glorify the Father. Who is watching you? It is not that we have to be man-pleasers and compromise our own well being, but we may be the only “Jesus” others may see. Tell yourself that if Jesus could endure the bruising for our transgressions, wounds for our iniquity, chastisement for our peace, and stripes for our healing, we should be able to endure the mild persecution that is inflicted upon us in this generation. When you persevere and hold fast to your Christian values, you will see your witness become more and more effective. Remember, we are the sheep of His pasture, and He will always protect us.