because God glories in it?

What?

Read what Peter has to say about it…

wServants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, xmindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But yif when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For zto this you have been called, ybecause Christ also suffered for you, aleaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 bHe committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 cWhen he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, dbut continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 eHe himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we fmight die to sin and glive to righteousness. hBy his wounds you have been healed. 25 For iyou were straying like sheep, but have now returned to jthe Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Read it again, slowly.

I had to read this passage, 1Peter 2 18-25, several times before I could fully grasp accept the meaning the Holy Spirit revealed thru Peter.  No doubt, the Holy Spirit had me in mind.  I am surprise the book doesn’t state, the first letter of Peter for Jill,  because I am a vicious sinner when it comes to enduring injustice.

I don’t like to endure justice.   Really, I want pay back!  A painful punishment at it’s best.

A little not so pretty background info on me…

After graduating with a criminal justice degree, I marveled in my $7.10 per hour adventurous  undercover loss prevention officer position and experienced the greatest joy in catching the non resentful shoplifter and making them feel like a worthless human being.  I showed a lot of them who was boss, especially when one broke my freshly manicured fingernail that I spent my last only dollar on.  At that season, I honestly believed I found my calling in life.  I loved that job!

You can stop laughing now!

Admittedly, this is not one of those  passages I hold dear in my heart because it challenges me and I just don’t always want to follow Peter’s inspired wise counsel.  In other words, I am not running to Hobby Lobby so I can stencil these verses on my living room wall any time soon.

Bluntly, I don’t want to be challenged in this area,  just because it’s NOT fair!

Retaliation is my nature.

However, I am joined in Christ and I am to endure injustice graciously whether  I want to or not.  Not an option for a “true”  Christian.

I am to be mindful of God when injustice is served.

And Paul tells me there will be plenty of injustices thrown in my walk, but I must remember Jesus never retaliated, never spit back, and in his last breath pleaded with his Heavenly Father to forgive his murderers.

Retaliation is was my nature, but He now lives in me.

May I be a witness to His glory with a cheerful heart.

Still a daily struggle with me.

Pray for me.