Good Suffering

1) In your life have you ever been unjustly punished or blamed for something that you didn’t do?

2) In school and the teacher punishes everyone even though you were doing the right thing

3) Nicholas Yarris murder 21 yrs, Bruce Godschalk 15 yrs, Tim Masters 9 yrs

4) There are examples of people that have suffered and even died while doing good things for their fellow man

5) This epistle was written during the reign of Nero

6) For our scripture let’s back up a couple of verses

a) Vs 13 starts with the word submit – take a subordinate position

7) First we are to submit governments and authorities

8) The second submit is for slaves to submit to their masters

a) We don’t have slaves in the us but some of us may think our employers as slave drivers

b) So what does this say about how we should act or react toward a harsh employer?

9) When we suffer unjustly we need to look to Jesus and how he reacted

1 Peter 2:13-25 (NIV)
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. 18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.