Last week we watched as Paul suffered through physical pain
and persecution. We saw that Paul trusted in God through all his adversity. But
didn’t you wonder – just a little – why God let HIM suffer? Paul? The guy who
helped to write a large part of the New Testament? The super-Christian?
Obviously, if HE suffered, we’re going to suffer as well. But (whining, just a
little) WHY?
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
If you were of the world, the world would love you as
its own; but because you are not of the world,
but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I
said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his
master.’ If they persecuted me,
they will also persecute
you. If they kept my word, they will also keep
yours. But all
these things they will do to you on
account of
my name, because they do not know him who sent
me. If I had not come and spoken to them,
they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did,
they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have
seen and hated
both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled:
‘They hated
me without a cause.’[1] John 15:18-25 (ESV)
Looking at these verses, we see Jesus’ answer about
persecution: they hate Me (and My Father) and they will hate you as well. If
they persecute Me, they will also persecute you.
Have you been in a situation where you’ve taken a stand for
Christ and found yourself teased, picked on, or hated? Have you noticed that
more and more of our “Christianity” is being taken from us because of political
correctness? Can you still wear a cross at work? Put a Bible on your desk?
Frame a scripture? Say “Merry Christmas”? Are there other ways you have seen
the world hating you because you are a Christian?
If you have been hated for your Christian stand in the
workplace, you might want to pay special attention to these verses:
Servants, be subject to your
masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the
unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows
while suffering unjustly. For
what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a
gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called,
because Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no
sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile
in return; when he suffered, he did
not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 1
Peter 2:18-23 (ESV)
Obviously we are not “servants” in the sense of the text,
but as employees we are “servants” to our “master”, the boss. When s/he treats
you unfairly, how do you respond? Does your normal response differ from what is
written here? How could changing your response further the kingdom of God?
Believers have been called for suffering because ___________
suffered and gave us an example.
I don’t know about you, but when I am treated unfairly I
just want to SCREAM at the injustice (have you noticed that sometimes “unfair”
really means “I didn’t get my way”?). Then I want to cry! I am learning to
still my soul and clamp my mouth shut so that I can follow Christ’s example.
Take some time to analyze your life in the light of Christ’s
example. When you are treated wrongly, how does your attitude and action need
to change? Take some time to really think about your reactions to unfair
treatment and their effect on your testimony for Christ. Ask Jesus to help your
actions more closely model His, and take some time to confess the areas where
you need help. He’s promised to be there for you. Your attitude and actions won’t
change overnight, but with Jesus’ help, moment by moment, you can accept unfair
treatment in a more Christ-like manner.
I will pray for you as you pray for me, and I look forward to
hearing your thoughts on this topic – or any other, for that matter! See you
Wednesday.
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