1 Peter 2:18-25 “Servants, be submissive
to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but
also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of
conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what
credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it
patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently,
this is commendable before God. For to this you were
called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor
was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile
in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten,
but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who
Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to
sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were
healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now
returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
Last Sunday was Pentecost
Sunday in the Christian church and Pastor Kyle continued in our church’s sermon
series through the book of 1 Peter. Pastor Kyle believes that the Christian
church is anticipating a new revival, with tangible gospel growth and multitudes
of new Believers globally. In all it’s years, Jesus’ church has been through
everything imaginable: persecution, dark ages, divisions and wars. The
Christian church has endured it, persevered through it, and overcame it each
time. That is what we are doing today yet again with this worldwide pandemic.
Revelation 12:11 “And they
overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their
testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
The Holy Spirit is available
through faith in Christ to help us get through whatever we are going through.
One of the most defining works that the Holy Spirit does in every Believer’s
life is to help us endure, help us persevere and guide us through the process
of overcoming. We are in the middle of a massive storm as a civilization and we
are trying to move forward through it, but the future still looks cloudy. In
spite of that fact, we have tremendous reasons for hope today.
The Apostle Peter is
pointing us to Jesus’ example of unjust suffering at the Cross and that there
are actually blessings from God when Christians suffer unjustly, endure it,
persevere through it, and overcome it also. What does it look like for
Christians? First, the Holy Spirit enables us to overcome by practicing “biblical
submission” and by serving in times of suffering, quiet times and in times of
success. There is a place for seeking justice and trying to change a system
when it is crooked and broken. The Apostle here focuses on how to get through
it. How does biblical submission apply to us today? What is natural is to do the bare minimum in
any given situation. So, the second thing is that what is supernatural is to
serve others while you are being poorly treated and do so with respect.
Respect doesn’t mean that
the other person is “right”. Respect means that you respect God and respect
those you serve because God has put that person(s) in authority over your life.
So, this is how 1 Peter 1:17-25 does not apply to us. Slavery is not a reality
in America today. When submitting to those in authority, we must see them as
God sees them, because before we can submit to them, we need to see then
through the eyes of God. They are human too, they are created in God’s image as
well and they need grace like us. God loves them as much as he loves you and I.
Reflect on these facts and have a better attitude towards respecting authority.
Does biblical submission
mean that we have to do whatever we are told? (1) If it is legal and moral then
“yes”. (2) If it is dim-witted, ridiculous and unfair then “yes”. (3) If it is
illegal, immoral or against God’s Holy Word then “no”.
Let’s continue Pastor Kyle’s
message on “overcoming” in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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