Some Meat

For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

1 Peter 2:19

This portion of Scripture comes amidst instructions to submit to authorities, kings and governors. In fact not only is there to be submission, there’s to be honor given. This kind of teaching tends to defy our independent American thinking, yet in God’s foreknowledge he did not give us an “optional obedience” clause.

Servants also are commanded to be subject to masters, whether their masters are kind or not. Slavery was a way of life for millions of people in Ancient Rome. Even in difficult circumstances, we are taught as much as possible to live peaceably with all people (Romans 12:18).

This is (in part) for conscience sake. Conscience toward God. There are points at which we have to look at what is acceptable in our culture and heritage, look at our Bibles, and choose between the two. This will bring grief, folks won’t understand or agree, but the suffering is “wrongful” because you’re choosing rightly.

We will be faced with choosing the praise of people or the praise of God. This, friend, is the entryway to the fellowship of suffering Jesus calls us to, and we had better settle it in our minds if we’re going to follow in his steps.

-Pastor C.