Suffering for doing well...

(1 Peter 3:17) “For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.”

As Christian we have been subjected to a new set of “rules” (we are not under law but under grace); it is clear from scripture that we are to behave in a new fashion not as we formally did prior to salvation; obviously our old characters fight this truth with all fibre and might. It is foreign to our understanding and logic, with principals that operate outside of the realm of sin. Even the Old Testament writings teach us that an “eye for an eye” is the acceptable action when wronged. However since the greatest man that ever lived, the Lord Jesus Christ sacrificially gave himself so that sinners could go free, that old set of “rules” has been done away with; “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) 

Just as Christ turned the other cheek when stricken, we too have now been commissioned to follow His pattern.  No longer is an “eye for an eye” acceptable. Why then do we still battle to accept this truth? We are not willing to die like our Saviour died. But all this will do is send us in circles; I speak as one who has not conquered this principle in my life, on the contrary my life has been so full of disappointment and all because I have not taken this truth and made it my own.

I remember as a kid playing at the park not far from my house; there was a merry-go-round that we would spin as fast as we could, before long we would be dizzy from the roundabout motion. Christianity can have a similar effect; we must emolument careful attention to our Fathers instruction in and through his Word, the Bible. We all must eventually come to an understanding of what is expected from us as Children. We all have experienced in one form or another, suffering for our own stupidity, but how often have we shared in Christ’s sufferings; how often has our heavenly Father glanced down from heaven with admiration as we suffer for His name sake?

I know that I am so caught up with my own pity party at times that I lose sight of this wonderful truth; “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” (1Peter 4:12-13)

God has perfectly structured His plan, we must learn to accept it in faith and seek out obedience for our lives; obviously we will never achieve this in the natural, but by grace through faith this possibility can become our reality as Christians. My prayer Father God is that you help us recognise your hand in our lives, so that when wronged, we may understand that it is your will for our lives as you train us to become more and more like our Glorious Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, help us I pray to find grace to turn the other cheek, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone