Continuing Michael’s message: In 1 Peter 2:16-20 the Apostle Peter tells us, “as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people.
Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 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.”
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 fallen world. We may suffer wrongly on this side of eternity. God’s will is that we do the “right” thing with a heart of love for God (accordant to the standard of truth and justice or the will of God. That alone is right in the sight of God), despite suffering 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 (due to our sins), He sent his Son to bear the death we deserved.
What is God’s plan? You 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, “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of 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; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”
There is much evil in this dark God-rejecting 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, “He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.
God is still sovereign Lord 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 not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” ... that we may be to the praise of the glory of His grace! Proclaim that truth!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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