Endurance
Notes
Transcript
Lately, I have started running again. In fact, last week Krista and I were walking the dog and Scott, our neighbor, yelled out from his porch “I saw you running the other day and no one was chasing you - everything ok?”
Just making sure if I do get chased - I have a fighting chance.
Actually, I have a goal in mind and I am trying to reach it - but doing so is painful. What has helped motivate me to keep running is my daughter who often will run with me. I tend to go farther and faster when I run with her, because I can’t let that young whippersnapper beat her old man. But it is painful. I tell myself that the pain is temporary and the more I run, the stronger I will be and more I will be able to endure. So I focus on my goal and keep at it.
Today we are going to look at Christian endurance when faced with suffering and sorrows. We are not talking about the physical pain one may feel from exercise, rather the emotional stress of dealing with very difficult circumstances. How do we endure through hardship.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines Endurance as the ability to keep doing something difficult, unpleasant, or painful for a long time.
We all have to deal with suffering in our lives.
We all experience times of sorrow in our lives.
How we live with suffering and sorrow and how we acknowledge God’s presence in those moments will determine how well we endure.
Now this particular segment from 1 Peter actually starts with verse 18 - which has to do with slavery. I chose not to start with that verse, because the argument Peter makes applies to more than that particular topic. We are going to look at suffering and sorrow on a broader scale, but it is important to first address the context Peter’s teaching is applied against.
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.
To our modern ears, that is a very difficult teaching. In fact, this particular passage was misused by many a Christian to justify their actions and control their slaves during that horrific time in our country’s history when the institution of slavery was in force.
Without diminishing the American tragedy of human slavery, I do need to share that slavery during Roman times in the first Century was strikingly different than the institution of slavery practiced in the U.S.
According to the NIV Application Commentary, it is estimated that a 1/3 of the population of the Roman Empire was made up of slaves. While slaves did lack legal rights and some were treated harshly, there were features of 1st Century slavery that are worth noting:
racial factors played no role
education was greatly encouraged (some slaves were better educated than their owners)
slaves could own property
no laws prohibited public assembly of slaves
the majority of urban and domestic slaves could legitimately anticipate being emancipated by the age of 30
What is also interesting is the fact that many members of the early church were slaves.
Among the Christian community, all were treated equally since we are all children of God made in his image. You can probably see the appeal.
So Peter is speaking to the segment of the church, again a pretty significant segment, on how they are to conduct themselves as followers of Christ.
Contrary to those who criticize the Bible and say that the Bible legitimizes or advocates for slavery, what we find here is Peter teaching Christians how to live in a way that honors Jesus no matter what life circumstance you find yourself.
Slavery was a reality - a majority of the church at that time could attest to that fact, so how do you live in this world, in the world systems and structures that exist, and yet live in such a way that you bring God glory?
The whole trajectory of the Bible is the move from slavery to freedom. From Egypt to Israel. From slavery to sin and death to eternal life with God. So no…the Bible does not condone slavery.
The question is: how do you live in freedom when your circumstances shackle you? How do you endure?
Peter’s instructions to slaves, in fact the term he uses is more specifically translated ‘domestic slaves’, ties back to what he teaches all Christians.
Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.
In other words, your conduct should always reflect Jesus, that way you will demonstrate God’s grace to unbelievers in the present, and at the day of judgment, your honorable deeds will be used to vindicate you.
But why would slaves be taught to submit and be obedient to their masters - even when their master’s are harsh? And why are we, when faced with unjust or harsh treatment or circumstances, instructed to obediently endure?
The short answer is - because Jesus said “follow me” - remember?
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
How did Jesus respond to injustice, harsh words, suffering, sorrow? Did he fight back? Did he sharpen his tongue and lash out at his tormentors?
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.
Peter is instructing these Christians that the way to glory is through suffering. This realization for Peter came after the resurrection. Before the resurrection, he rejected the idea.
I’m thinking of Mark 8:31-33
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
The road to glory is through suffering? It made no sense. Until it did.
And so, Peter tells those who must keep doing something difficult, unpleasant, or painful for a long time, to endure.
For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly.
Your endurance is “evidence that grace is at work in your lives”. You bear it fully aware that God sees you and is with you.
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.
Peter Davids, in his commentary on 1 Peter, writes...
As baptized Christians....this call is to Christ…but as Christ did not receive the crown of glory without the crown of thorns, this call also means following the example of Christ in suffering.
So let me bring this into real life application.
Maybe you are facing physical pain or sickness that constantly flares up and makes life difficult. Some days you can manage - others you cannot.
What do you do?
You look to your Savior. Jesus prayed to His Father, so you pray to your Heavenly Father. Jesus at times rested, you rest as needed. Jesus stayed on mission, so you do what you can do to further the Kingdom, you spend time ministering to others, if you can’t get around, you spend time praying for others. As long as you draw breath, you have work to do. God sees what you do and by his grace, you live to glorify him.
Maybe you are suffering injustice. Others are not treating you fairly. Close friends are suddenly no where to be found. People are talking.
What do you do?
You look to your Savior. Jesus did not spend a lot time arguing with the Pharisees and the scribes, he was too busy healing the sick, bringing sight to the blind, driving out demons and preaching the Kingdom of God. Stay on mission. Turn your attention on those who are hungry for God.
Maybe you are stuck in tough relationship. Maybe it is a spouse, or a family member, and they have wronged you in some way. They have treated you unfairly. It is difficult.
What do you do?
You look to your Savior. What did Jesus do to Judas? He washed his feet. What did Jesus do when Peter denied him 3 times? He forgave and restored him.
I’m not saying you stay in an abusive relationship - there are boundaries that should not be crossed and when they are, you must protect yourself and get help. But there are difficult relationships that we are called to endure. We pray earnestly for guidance. We seek counsel from those who can help. We demonstrate sacrificial love. We try to see in that person what Christ sees in each of us - a beautiful child of God marred by sin. We work toward peace and let the Spirit lead us.
We do this because we are working toward the goal that Jesus is working toward - the restoration of all things.
If Jesus has healed your wounds, given you new life, then you know that he restores and that he desires the same for all.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Earlier I said,
How we live with suffering and sorrow and how we acknowledge God’s presence in those moments will determine how well we endure.
God is with you. No matter what you are going through, God is with you.
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
And since He is with you, you have the power to endure.
Jesus is the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul - so you do not need to fear.
I would like to close with us reciting the 23rd Psalm. We heard it read earlier, but I want us to read it together out loud and as we do so, let it sink in that you have a Shepherd who will walk you through all life’s trials and difficulties, sufferings and sorrows, peaks and valleys. Keep moving forward, one day the crown of thorns will be replaced with the crown of glory.
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Amen.