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Following in Jesus’ Steps

Many Christians around the world face injustice and suffering. Peter’s readers were no exception. Some of them were even slaves of unjust masters. They suffered while doing good!

The Bible makes clear that God hates such patterns of social injustice. Paul’s letter to Philemon, for example, states that a Christian slave owner should not consider his slave “as a bondservant,” but “as a beloved brother” (Philemon 1:15-16). The Bible also makes clear that God will judge wicked people for their deeds (see for example in Ecclesiastes 3:17).  

But in this text passage, the apostle Peter focuses on our attitude toward unjust suffering. He says that enduring when doing good, and suffering for it, is “a gracious thing in the sight of God”. He even says that we have been called to this, that we should follow Christ’s example of suffering. Jesus Christ was completely innocent, but was reviled and murdered. He did not revile in return or threaten, but “continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly”—that is, to God the Father.

Does it comfort you that God will judge all unrighteousness? Do you manage to entrust yourself to Him, instead of trying to take revenge yourself?