Sanctified Suffering

Suffering for doing right frees us from living for self, so that we may sacrifice for the good of others.

The Exhortation to Submission

Peter addresses the house servants (oiketes) in their submission to their masters for the Lord’s sake.

The house servant wasn’t free to leave, but had more freedom in that day that what we think of as slaves. There was a level of trust with many of them, having grown up in the home.

The closest example today would be an employee.

The were to submit regardless of the master’s worthiness.

Both to the good and gentle and the crooked and morally perverse.

1 Timothy 6:1 ESV

1 Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.

1 Peter: An Introduction and Commentary 1. Even to Evil Ones (2:18–20)

The ‘crookedness’ of such masters suggests not only physical mistreatment but also dishonesty regarding pay, working conditions, expectations, etc. Even to these, submission and the obedience it implies are required ‘for the Lord’s sake’

God is pleased with those who are mindful of Him in the midst of undeserved suffering.

This is not the result of Stockholm syndrome, but of Sanctified Suffering.

God gives grace to those who suffer for Him unjustly.

Matthew 5:11–12 ESV

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

There will come a point in your life when you must choose between what is popular and what the Lord has called you to do. When a Christian endures persecution for righteousness sake, he or she demonstrates to the world the same character that Christ displayed upon the Cross.

Christ’s Example in Suffering

He Lived Righteously - He did not suffer for any wrong that he had done.

He Suffered Unjustly - he did not return evil for evil, or threaten his persecutors.

This obviously made an impression on impetuous Peter.

He Trusted Completely - His trust was in the Father to judge justly.

The Father would judge not only his accusers, but also everyone involved in the situation.

We tend to judge from our own perspective and desires, God is just, knows all, and sees every motive. He will judge justly. In the end those outside of Christ will be judged, those in Christ have already had their sin judged at the Cross.

This attitude is an example to us as believers. Only when we have an eternal perspective knowing that God will right every wrong. He uses our suffering to sanctify us and demonstrate the glory of God to others.

He Died Sacrificially - on our behalf.

Suffering frees us from living for self, so that we may sacrifice for the good of others.

It clarifies what is eternally important.

Application

Are you suffering for your own sake or righteousness’ sake? Repent or Rejoice

Are you focused on the source of your suffering or the Savior of your Soul?

Footprints of Jesus, that make the pathway glow; We will follow the steps of Jesus Where’er they go.