Challenge Central: a CBC devotional
By: Shannon Green
I don’t know about you, but I cannot stop watching the news. The things going on around the world are giving me so many feelings. If I am being honest, those feelings range from disbelief to heartache and often even fear. Recent feelings are not just surrounding the news around the world, but even things close to home.
Doesn’t it seem like there are a lot of difficulties right here around us too?
I know we do not have imminent war in our country, thankfully, but there are political controversies, illnesses such as cancer and other diseases, and even financially, things are just so expensive, and people are really struggling.
In this fallen world that is full of sin, we know that there will be suffering. How should we behave during these times of suffering?
In preparation this week for the women’s study I am in, we were assigned to read 1 Peter 2: 21-24. This passage says:
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
It is reassuring to know that Christ knows what it is like to suffer. Not only did he suffer but he suffered for us. Christ demonstrated sacrificial suffering for you and me. Verse 21 goes on to say that in His suffering, He has left us an example that we might follow. Let us look closer at what that example is.
Firstly, in verse 22 it shows us that no sin or deceit was in His mouth while he suffered. I don’t know about you, but when I am suffering, my words are not often pleasing to those around me. I can be irritated, frustrated and angry, and those close to me often feel the brunt of those things.
In looking to Jesus’ example, it says that deceit and sin were not found in His mouth. Further, verse 23 says that when He was reviled, He did not revile (criticize in an abusive manner) in return. When He suffered, He did not threaten. Our natural reaction can be to lash back in times of suffering and yet, Jesus showed us that there is a better way.
What is that way?
The end of verse 23 says, “He continued entrusting himself to Him who judges justly”. Jesus trusted the Father’s plan when He went to the cross. We too, need to trust the One who is sovereign over all things. The One who would send his son to the cross for us, loves us and has a plan for our lives. He has made a way where we can be with Him for eternity. That is the kind of love and power we can trust in!
The end of the passage in verse 24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.”
Ultimately, we don’t know what is coming next in our lives. But we do know the One who loves us so much that He sent his son to bear our suffering. We get to delight in the fact that this is not our home. He is preparing a place for us to spend eternity where there will be suffering no more.
