When Suffering Patiently Brings God's Approval

Moving on in 1 Peter 2:18-25, we find Peter instructing believing household servants to submit to those who rule over them. This would apply to all believers who find themselves under unjust people. Currently in the USA most of us are blessed to have many ways out of such situations. As our nation continues to be punished for its sin we will see unjust treatment more and more.

The word the Holy Spirit  gave to us would apply to the time we are under the unjust. As I wrote this I was reminded of what God said elsewhere:

•   "For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9 ISV 

We should examine ourselves to make sure we are obedient. The Holy Spirit also tells us through Peter something that should define us:

• You were “like sheep that kept going astray,”n

Paul soberly warned us in 2 Corinthians 13:5:

• Keep examining yourselves to see whether you are continuing in the faith. Test yourselves! You know, don't you, that Jesus the Messiah lives in you? Could it be that you are failing the test?

Brothers and sisters, countless pastors and teachers act out the role of a king. Those with gifts of the Holy Spirit are not heard from anymore as the scriptures teach they should be. Only the king gives what he wants and most of them have forsaken warning the people. They tickle the ears and give their opinions, not God's. They constantly address the crowd as believers and say "we this" and "we that", reinforcing over and over the listeners are believers while countless of them have never been born again. 


1 Peter 2  ISV

18You household servants must submit yourselves to your masters out of respect, 

• not only to those who are kind and fair, but also to those who are unjust. 
• 19For it is a fine thing if, when moved by your conscience to please God, you suffer patiently when wronged. 
• 20What good does it do if, when you sin, you patiently receive punishment for it? 
• But if you suffer for doing good and receive it patiently, you have God’s approval. 

21This is, in fact, what you were called to do, because:

The Messiahj also suffered for you

and left an example for you

to follow in his steps.

22“He never sinned,

and he never told a lie.”k

23When he was insulted,

he did not retaliate.

When he suffered,

he did not threaten.

It was his habit

to commit the matter to the one who judges fairly.

24“He himself bore our sins”l in his body on the tree,

so that we might die to those sins

and live righteously.

“By his wounds

you have been healed.”m

25You were “like sheep that kept going astray,”n

but now you have returned to the shepherd

and overseer of your souls.

I am confident the Lord led me to this video this morning. They do not get better than this one. I trust you will be greatly blessed by it!