Follow in His Steps

1 Peter 2:21-25 (NLT)

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

He never sinned,
    nor ever deceived anyone.
He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
    nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
    who always judges fairly.
He personally carried our sins
    in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
    and live for what is right.
By his wounds
    you are healed.
Once you were like sheep
    who wandered away.
But now you have turned to your Shepherd,
    the Guardian of your souls.


Reflection

We can’t argue with a Savior who tells us up front that we will suffer if we follow Him. Christianity is not for the faint-hearted. Suffering for our beliefs, though, is quite different from suffering because sin entered the world. For believers, both are inevitable and both find their meaning in Christ, but what distinguishes them is choice—we can choose not to follow Jesus and thus avoid the double whammy.

However, if we choose to follow in His steps, the behavior we should exhibit when facing persecution is non-negotiable: we must imitate the humility modeled in this passage. Will we carry out this calling perfectly? No, but the pattern of our lives should consistently reflect the love Jesus has for everyone, including those who ostracize and persecute us.

Looking at the spiritual trajectory of this world, nothing short of a planetary revival will prevent persecution from coming our way. The prophet Isaiah says, “For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall” (Isaiah 25:4). If we stand firm in our faith now, God will be our shelter when the rain starts pouring down.


Action Steps

Reread this passage and consider how you respond to insults, injustice, and threats. Do your responses mirror the humility of Jesus?


Prayer
 
Jesus, thank You for guarding my soul against the contempt this world has for Your truth. Lead me where You need me to go so I can point the way to salvation amid rejection and opposition. Amen.