It is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will than for doing evil. –
1 Peter 3:17
A woman admitted to a counselor that she became very aggravated when her husband essentially “pushed her hot buttons,” sometimes in fun and other times to cause her grief.
Among other things, the counselor suggested that when he did that, she should bless him, and actually say, “Bless you, dear.” Do you think that was easy for her? And yet, think of the prime example in God’s Word.
Christ Jesus suffered all the years of His life on Earth because of people’s harsh words. His troubled soul, in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, caused drops of blood to fall as sweat from His brow (Luke 22:44). He asked the disciples to pray with Him but they slept instead. In the end, He endured such a cruel death, but either He kept silent, or His words were still gentle and forgiving (Matthew 27:14). It was God’s will that He should suffer… for no cause of His own, but for the sins of all people.
The apostle Peter encourages people of faith when he says, “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (1 Peter 4:19). If you suffer because you have done wrong, be ashamed. Neither suffering is pleasant, but as today’s verse states, “It is better to suffer for doing good if that should be God’s will.” In that case, let your testimony before your enemies express your faithfulness to the God who is always faithful to you.
Be ready for suffering that might come because of your faith.
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