1 Peter 2:18-25 Revised Standard Version
18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to the kind and gentle but also to the overbearing. 19 For one is approved if, mindful of God, he endures pain while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you take it patiently? But if when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God’s approval. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,[a] that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
- Read all the verses – What is your first impression?
All me this week as I needed to avoid exposing others to whatever is in the house. My first impression is that approval only comes from unjust suffering. Earned suffering is your own responsibility.
- Read 18 again – Consider how are we to be submissive to the overbearing. Then when is enough, enough?
As with the discussion on following the leaders God puts over us, our lower-level leaders that treat us poorly are not enough to fight back. It might be a sign to move to a new job, or move to a new town, or something similar, but as long as the overbearing overseer is not asking you to violate God’s commands, then we are to submit. Overturning an ungodly government is a pretty tricky undertaking, but God can change even the wicked if it is His will
- Read 19-20 again – Note the pattern: Act justly, suffer patiently, with God in mind, be approved. How important is “mindful of God” in the process?
Formatting in the latest Word version is as frustrating as ever. I never understood why it was so hard. Whatever I used before Word sure did spoil me, but it is long gone. If God is not at the root of all our actions, then they cannot be God honoring and might as well not be done. It’s a simple concept but can be very hard to make automatic.
- Read 21 again – Called, Christ Suffered, an Example, Follow – Christ was our example, if He did it, so should we. What example behavior do you model?
I model the easy stuff. There are so many aspects to this that I am just not sure where to go with it. I often fail to even get to this level of detail. I guess it is an area I can improve in.
- Read 22-23 again – No Sin, No Guile, No Reviling, No Threatening – How are we to be submissive to overbearing?
If I was better at English, this would be an obviously rhetorical question, but I do not think I understand how to apply the definition. Basically, we are to avoid sin, avoid guile, avoid reviling, and avoid threatening. I equate this to being perfect, which I can not achieve, but I can strive with Christ as my example).
- Read 24 again – Die to sin, Live to righteousness – How do you personally apply this?
This concept has been rattling around in my head lately and the simple answer is by being not afraid to fail. Live knowing failure can and will happen, but live anyway. Do the impossible things God calls us to do and let Him provide the success (or not).
- Read 25 again – Strayed, Return, Shepherd and Guardian – How does His guardianship impact you?
As a young adult, I always looked at the histories of those around me and knew that God had protected me from doing all those things they did and regretted. I was not better than them, only more protected. As Job was hedged in by God and achieved success, I was hedged in and failed a little less spectacularly.
- From 11-17, we are to follow. From 18-25, we are told to suffer. Are we taught or do we learn to expect “following” to demand “suffering”?
We are probably not thinking this was something we were taught. We also probably forgot 95% of everything they tried to teach us about anything and everything. I did not make all As in Spanish, but after two years of it, I think I knew about a dozen words. I probably missed all the teaching of “expect following to demand suffering”, but it is throughout the Bible, especially the new Testament and the lives of many devote Christians since. I learned Japan experienced a run of killing Christians and while I understood there were differences in cultures between our countries, they have been well masked since the end of WW2. Know that despite all suffering, God offers us joy and approval.