Saturday, August 27, 2011

what to do when you are suffering

How to deal with suffering.


See the verses below..........Peter was speaking to those who were suffering wrongfully, and had called them to follow the example of Jesus Christ, and now in these verses, He explains in great detail what Jesus did when He suffered wrongfully.


1 Pet 2:22  “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

1 Pet 2:23  who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

1 Pet 2:24  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.

1 Pet 2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Jesus had not committed any sin. He had done nothing wrong in His life, yet He was suffering. He also did not have any guile in His mouth. That is, He was not deceitful, or crafty in any way. 

Here's what Jesus did when He suffered. 

1. He did not revile or insult back when He was reviled. 
2. He did not return evil for evil.
3. He made no threats of vengeance.
4. He trusted Himself to God who judges fairly.

So, what Jesus did not do, is what we are not to do. And, what Jesus did do, we are to do also. Don't fight back, Don't pay back. Don't threaten others. But, commit yourself to God. He knows what is going on, and He is a righteous and fair Judge. He will take care of you. Just like He did Jesus His son. 

Peter concludes, that it was Christ on the cross, who personally bore our sins, and paid the penalty for. He did this so that we through faith in Him could live forever with God. 
It's by what Jesus did that we are healed. All healing, both spiritually, physically, is rooted in what Christ did on the cross. 

We had gone astray, like everyone else. But now as believers in Jesus Christ, we have come back to our Shepherd from heaven. He is our guardian, He is our protector, our savior.

Lord, help us to follow You, and Your example. 

Applications/ Promises.

1. It's clear, Jesus is our example.
2. Following Jesus is our call.
3. Look how He handled His suffering. 
4. You can do the same thing.
5. Trust the Lord with your soul and troubles.
6. Christ has already saved you.
7. Jesus will take good care of you.