Patient Endurance
Strength to be still
For what credit is there if, when you sin
and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what
is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds
favor with God – 1 Peter 2:20
When a person is penalized, whether it be
financially or physically, for a poor decision or an outright sin, we say, “He
got what he deserved.” Sometimes the
person is penitent and humbled, but
regardless of his attitude, society considers it reasonable that he take
his punishment without complaint. But
what about the times when a person gets what he doesn’t deserve; when life just
doesn’t seem fair?
Well, the world’s answer is to say, “That’s
just the way it is; some things will never change,” to quote Stevie Winwood.
But, God tells the Christian, “There’s a better way; patient endurance.” There seems to be something about quietly
standing firm in Him when we are treated unfairly; when we believe with quiet
confidence that our God is in control, regardless of the circumstances. This
attitude actually seems to make Him smile.
I like the way this verse reads in
The Message bible: “There’s no particular virtue in accepting punishment that
you well deserve. But if you’re treated badly for good behavior and continue in
spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.”
Jesus did just that; He is our example.
Jesus got what I deserved. (1Peter 2:21)
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