“…when he suffered, he did not threaten…” 1 Peter 2:23
Sometimes we get what we deserve. Sometimes things just happen. Other times we may get what we definitely do not deserve.
When we act foolishly, is it to our credit that we suffer the consequences with patience and dignity? Chances are we knew what would happen if we did it and got caught. Yet we did it anyway. Can we claim we are being treated unfairly?
Other times we do the right thing with the right attitude and find we can’t please anybody. Do we protest and fight back? Or do we suffer patiently through it?
It’s not because God likes to see us suffer. It’s not because suffering is good for us. It’s because we are closely associated with Christ. He suffered for us to deal with our sin, leaving us an example to follow of sacrificial love. He also suffered at the hands of the world simply because of who he was. And he refused to fight back.
The irony of the gospel is that we get what we do not deserve. Our sin is taken away by God’s grace. Our due punishment is borne by Jesus Christ and we receive the gift of salvation. But when we do well, and perform in a Christ-like manner, we may be criticized, ridiculed or even punished. Not by God, but by the world around us. Fair? No, but get used to it.
(For more details, see 1 Peter 2:19-25)
Copyright 2019 David J. Cooley