Continuing in 1 Peter 2:16-20. “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloche of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the forward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.”
When we suffer wrongly for the sake of righteousness, this fulfills Jesus’ exhortation on the sermon on the mount ... blessed are they when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven. Testing produces a testimony for God. It’s easy to praise God when everything goes well with us in this world. However, we are not of this world. We may suffer wrongly in this world. God’s Will is that we do the “right” thing with a heart of love for God despite being suffered wrongs. Jesus Christ himself suffered to bear our wrongs ... For God commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. Even though we were unworthy of His love and grace and deserving of death, God sent his Son to bear the death we deserved.
What is God’s plan? Ye who were dead in trespasses and sins whom God has made righteous through Jesus’ payment for our sins: you are God’s plan. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
Psalm 37:1-5 says, “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
There is much evil in this world. However, despite the darkness of the world around us, we can live in the light of the truth of His word. God’s righteous judgement will prevail in the end. According to Psalm 37:14-15: “The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.” Therefore, the righteous humbly wait on the Lord. Psalm 37-6-8 says, And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”
God is still Sovereign overall. Despite the darkness of this world He will sustain the righteous according to Psalm 37:23-24, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholds him with His hand.”
These verses in Psalm 37 confirm the truth of Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” ... that we may be to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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