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Tamela Sue Wies
Mar 22, 20183 min read

Suffering Though Doing Good



1 Peter 3:17-18 "It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God." (MSG)

I recently had a conversation with someone very dear to my heart about suffering when doing good. Our conversation reminded me of Peter's 1st letter. He was writing to the Jewish Christians in various parts of the Roman Empire who were suffering because of their faith. Christianity had made a radical difference in the lives of these believers and it was impacting everything that they now said and did. They were living their lives with different priorities, different values, different principles and focused on a view of life that was counter to the people in that day and time. You can be sure that people noticed. Peter was wanting to encourage these precious believers to persevere, to continue on and he explains that it is much better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

This dear woman I was talking to loves the Lord, has a giving heart and seeks to live for Him. She has no pretenses about her and tries to live her life in obedience to Him. Despite her kindness, her honesty, and her faith, she is seen by a couple of non believers as manipulative and calculating. Oh how wrong they are, but as Peter wrote, the life as a believer and the message of the cross are offensive to those who are perishing. She is a light in the midst of the darkness and the fragrance of the knowledge of her Lord. They are caught up in the evil of this world and don't understand her convictions. Her faith smacks them in the face and they can't see past their blindness. Their spirits collide vs. coincide with hers.

Jesus Christ was a picture of righteous suffering. He lived his life loving, giving, teaching, sharing, helping etc. and was the epitome of everything good yet He was beaten, spit at, mocked, ridiculed, hated, scorned, and ultimately hung on a cross because He spoke the Truth.

If you find yourself suffering, evaluate where the suffering is coming from. If you have sinned, confess, repent and let God help you through it. If you've done nothing wrong be ready to gently speak up about why you live the way that you do. It is our reaction to this kind of persecution that sets us apart from the world. Our lives should be such that when the mud is being thrown it will not stick. Jesus told his disciples that in this world we will have troubles because of who we belong to and what we believe so though it isn't easy, we shouldn't be surprised by adversity.

He's walked in your shoes and has promised to be with you in the midst of all you are facing! Trust in Him!

________________________

Dear Lord,

The pain of rejection is very real and at times it seems to keep coming like torrents of rain hitting the hard cement. It cuts deep within and paralyzes us, keeping us from doing the very things that You desire. It is one thing to suffer for doing wrong, we expect that; but to suffer for doing good often sends us reeling. Help us in these times to look beyond ourselves, to seek Your face and Your peace, not retaliation. When we feel You are guiding us to speak up, help us to speak the truth in love not out of spite. Give us the strength and fortitude to follow Your example and let You fight our battle. I pray that our reactions reflect You in every way possible so that in some way You are glorified! You are worthy to be praised. You alone are all knowing and know the outcome when we can't. You alone have the power to orchestrate every situation so we trust in You!

In Jesus Name,

Amen

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