Suffering for Doing Good

 "Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 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."

— 1 Peter 2:18-20

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

Peter is addressing servants of low status instructing them how to live as Christ followers. They had limited recourse when met with unjust suffering. Today, I can quit my job, I can report illegal, immoral, or unethical behavior, I can even take legal action. Peter's readers didn't have that freedom. Peter wasn't a social reformer or a revolutionary. He was writing as a pastor-teacher. It was not his goal to overthrow the cultural systems of the day but to teach believers how to live for Christ within the cultural systems. For me today, the question is how do I live for Christ and serve the Lord on my job?

I am called to submit to my master—my employer, supervisor, boss—in reverent fear of God. Whether my boss is good and gentle or harsh and unjust. The Greek word used to describe the unjust master means "crooked, bent" and is where we get the word "scoliosis." If I suffer for doing wrong and bear it patiently, that's no credit to me. I had it coming. But if I suffer unjustly for doing good and I bear it patiently, that is commendable to God. Submission has nothing to do with the other person. It has everything to do with my relationship to God. When I endure unjust suffering in submission to God, His divine favor overcomes worldly injustice.

Gracious Lord Jesus, in this increasingly dark world where believers suffer unjustly for our stand for righteousness, Your counter-cultural call is not to fight and retaliate, but to follow in Your steps and to endure it patiently. Help me to fully understand this challenging call to lay down my life, my will, and my independence for Your sake. May my life be a bold, stark contrast to the world around me.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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