Resilient: Powerful Hope in a Dangerous WorldSample

Do you hate doing what you’re told? Did your parents ever tell you “because I said so!”? Does being told you have to do something make you not want to do it even if you’re not opposed to it?

This is a normal thought process for most of us- though not a particularly healthy one. We’ve discussed respecting our governing authorities because God has put them into place. This makes sense. Now Peter tells slaves to do the same with their masters. WOAH, that seems a little bit much, Peter. How could you possibly accept such a horrific situation?

This passage does not say that Peter, or God for that matter, approves of slavery. No permission is given, but there is no ignorance of the believers’ circumstances. Underlying this message is that Jesus came to bring all peoples into his family. The inclusivity of the gospel sets Christianity apart. Slaves are brothers. They are equals. Peter says, “...love the brotherhood. Fear God…”. All authorities must be respected, and slaves fall into a separate category that must be addressed.

But Peter notes that this is not a circumstance to be belittled and tossed together with all other authority. He tells slaves to obey their masters regardless of their treatment. He says about slaves enduring their treatment that no other title receives: it is gracious to be mindful of God in this way. It is significant to the Lord to endure unjust suffering to observe his commands.

You and I are likely not in a slave/master relationship. However, we do face poor treatment. We may be ridiculed, excluded, judged, or even harmed for following Jesus. Jesus told us to expect that! We’re even told to consider trials a joy because they draw us closer to God. Where our distinction may need to lie is that these hardships, while very real, may not truly be considered unjust. We deserve far worse. The penalty for the sins we’ve committed against God is death. That would be just. But instead, we were given a savior in Jesus.

So what if we could use submission to hardship as a means to glorify God?

Reflection Questions

1. How can you respect those with authority over you in a way that brings glory to God?
2. What hardships have you faced in your life? Did you recognize any of them as a means of drawing closer to God?
3. How does accepting unjust treatment honor God?