In my study time this morning I was reminded of an interesting verse in 1 Peter. He has spent a great deal of time dealing with our everday lives as Christians and then Peter mentions something that I often have a difficult time with. Consider:
1 Peter 2:20
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
Isn't that profound? We typically have no problem being corrected or rebuked when we have made a mistake. We can usually handle that pretty well and with a certain measure of patience.
The difficult aspect of this verse is in the later part. What if we are rebuked and mistreated when we are seeking to serve the Lord and doing the best we can to live right? That is when most of us will get angry and maybe even have a little "pity party." Peter reveals that if we can handle reproach with patience when we are doing well, then we have pleased the Lord.
Harsh words and hurt feelings come with the territory when serving the Lord. I know that we have all had those times when we felt pretty good about our walk with the Lord and someone came along and poured cold water on us, so to speak. It is then that we must restrain the desire to lash out and continue on in patience. That is what the Lord desires and we ought to seek to be more like Him.
By the way, if anyone has ever suffered for their well doing and took the rebuke patiently, it was the Lord. Acts 8:32 - The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: Surely if our Lord could endure the cruelty of the cross and the suffering it brought with patience, we can endure those things that come our way with the same attitude.
Let us serve the Lord with gladness as we seek to be more patient and loving to those around us.
Preacher Chris
1 Peter 2:20
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
Isn't that profound? We typically have no problem being corrected or rebuked when we have made a mistake. We can usually handle that pretty well and with a certain measure of patience.
The difficult aspect of this verse is in the later part. What if we are rebuked and mistreated when we are seeking to serve the Lord and doing the best we can to live right? That is when most of us will get angry and maybe even have a little "pity party." Peter reveals that if we can handle reproach with patience when we are doing well, then we have pleased the Lord.
Harsh words and hurt feelings come with the territory when serving the Lord. I know that we have all had those times when we felt pretty good about our walk with the Lord and someone came along and poured cold water on us, so to speak. It is then that we must restrain the desire to lash out and continue on in patience. That is what the Lord desires and we ought to seek to be more like Him.
By the way, if anyone has ever suffered for their well doing and took the rebuke patiently, it was the Lord. Acts 8:32 - The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: Surely if our Lord could endure the cruelty of the cross and the suffering it brought with patience, we can endure those things that come our way with the same attitude.
Let us serve the Lord with gladness as we seek to be more patient and loving to those around us.
Preacher Chris
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