Continued 👇🏾
Enduring Suffering for Righteousness
The apostle Peter teaches us about the virtue of suffering for God’s sake: “If a man endures suffering for the sake of God, he is to be commended. For what glory is there if, when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But if, when you do good and suffer, you endure it, this is praiseworthy in the sight of God. For to this you were called. Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow His steps closely. He did no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:19-23).
✍🏾 From this, we understand that Christians are called to endure suffering as an imitation of Christ. Trials and persecution are not punishments but opportunities to walk in the footsteps of our Savior.
✍🏾 Consider how our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to save mankind as an example and a ransom, was persecuted by the Jews. They did not act out of true wrongdoing on His part, for He had committed no sin. Rather, they persecuted Him because His good deeds exposed their wickedness, He honored those whom they despised, and He healed the sick even on the Sabbath.
✍🏾 The Evangelist John records: “Therefore the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill Him, because He did these things on the Sabbath” (John 5:16). Even when Jesus went to Jerusalem, the people did not receive Him, demonstrating how steadfast the world can be in rejecting righteousness.
✍🏾The Evangelist Luke records the steadfastness of our Lord Jesus Christ on His journey to Jerusalem: “When the days drew near for Him to go up to Jerusalem, He set His face to go, and sent messengers before Him. And they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans to prepare for Him; but they did not receive Him, because His face was as if He were going to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51-53). Even before His suffering on the cross, Christ faced rejection, showing us that following the path of righteousness may invite opposition.
✍🏾 The true apostles, who faithfully preached the gospel of Christ, were also hated and persecuted by the world. As our Lord foretold: “And when they persecute you in one city, flee to another; for truly I say to you, you shall not have gone over the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 10:22-23). And again: “Therefore also the wisdom of God said, I will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and persecute” (Luke 11:49).
✍🏾 Our Lord warned the scribes and Pharisees, the persecutors of His time: “Therefore, behold, I send you prophets and wise men and scribes; and some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city” (Matthew 23:34).
✍🏾But to His disciples, Christ said: “Before all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for My name’s sake” (Luke 21:12). These warnings prepared them for the trials of ministry, teaching that persecution is not unexpected but an integral part of the Christian calling.
Continues 👉🏾