“Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is
what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!” 1 Peter 3:17 New Living Translation
We live in a hostile world.
Hostile with regard to the world’s intolerance of anything that goes against
what they happen to believe. If we live for God at some point we will
experience some form of persecution. If we keep a clear conscience it will suit
us well. A clear conscience comes from a pure, uncorrupt mind clear of guilt.
In this way even when men accuse you your lifestyle will justify you.
If someone accuses you with false
accusations we must do as Christ did in the presence of Pontius Pilate. We must
remain silent. Nothing we could say would keep us from what our accuser has
planned, for they are not looking for facts or justifications, they are simply
looking for an excuse to take the accusation to the next step.
If a person, whether Christian or not,
suffers for doing wrong, then they are feeling the results of the consequences
of a poor decision made. However, if it is God’s will for you to suffer for
doing good, then it is a good thing and something that is pleasing to the Lord.
You see even in the suffering there are lessons to learn. If you happen to
believe as I do that God either causes or allows all things for his own
purposes, then the good you are suffering for will translate into jewels in
your crown when you arrive in heaven. I don’t pretend to understand any of
that, but I do know this, that God is God and I am not and everything that he
has either caused or allowed in my life has ended up being a blessing and not a
curse. Even my mistakes, though riddled with pain and heartache, ended up
becoming blessings in the end. So live your life to the fullest for the Lord
and know that he will not let you be put to shame as you honor his name thru
your thoughts, words and actions. Until
next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!
Resource: The Reformation Study Bible.
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