This has nothing to do with the fact that I continue to feel wasted after running bleachers at Rice. What I want to discuss is endurance in suffering.
For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:19-21, ESV).
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil (1 Peter 3:13-17, ESV).
Oftentimes we pray for deliverance from a trial or from persecution, especially unjust persecution. We feel it is wrong, and it is. Just look at the story of Job! Here was a man who was righteous, yet he suffered so that he could prove that men could love God even during dark times. We see Moses, David, the prophets all trust God, even when situations become grim. Yet who has been as righteous as Christ?
The Son of Man came down for the specific purpose of glorifying God through his death and resurrection, showing us the way we should relate to our heavenly Father, serving as our mediator, and establishing the route through which we can come before the Father in eternity. Not once did Christ cry out against the persecutions. Instead, he endured them even to death.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth;like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth (Isaiah 53:7, ESV).
Are we then to turn away and cry out in dismay when things don’t go well for us? We were sinners who were dead in our transgressions, but because of Christ, we now have life. In that life, we should emulate Christ so that those who persecute "may be put to shame" (1 Peter 3:16, ESV).
Finally, I leave you with an encouraging word from the author of Hebrews
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted (Hebrews 12:1-3, ESV).
Jesus, our Lord and Savior, now sits in power "at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him" (1 Peter 3:22, ESV).
The battle is already won. Stand strong, encourage one another, and receive the prize God has planned for you.
3 Comments
Good verses. I notice you are quoting ESV here and you were reading it in R.O.A.M. How do you like it? Thanks for that reminder too. So often we suffer from sin, yet when we willingly have the opportunity to suffer for the furtherment of the gospel many of us turn away either fearing shame, rejection, or just feeling inadequate. I remember I was reading not too long ago and I was really thinking how simple the texts were and how I wanted to read something deeper than basic truths. It was then I realized that when I am speaking to non believers and peoples of the world, those simple stories are the most effective way of sharing who Christ is and what it is to follow him.
Wow, Greg, that is such a good point. In talking about our small groups recently, I caught myself doing the very same thing (regarding wanting to go "deeper"). However, Christ is deep. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve gone over who He is, you still grow so much more from further interaction, whether through prayer, study, meditating on the Word, etc.
As for the ESV, I really like it. It’s not as fluid as the NLT, and I like some of the NIV’s phrasing, but I find Paul’s letters to come more alive. Plus, as I have The Listener’s Bible on mp3 in the ESV, it helps to have consistency. I’m also reading Table Talk, which uses the ESV.
Yeah, I agree with Greg — great verses. And I’ll throw out Hebrews 11 (the "Roll Call of Faith" and one of my favorite chapters in the Bible) as an additional thought. A lot of times I’m thinking that I’ll eventually understand why certain trials come about. But we’re not promised that. We’re called to be faithful in the midst of the trial, and we’re told that it will all work for our good, but we’re not told that we will know why the trial occurred. Hebrews 11:39 says, "And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised." They suffered for something that was yet to come. And God has a much bigger picture than just us that we don’t always appreciate.