“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.”
(1 Peter 2:21–22, NLT)
(1 Peter 2:21–22, NLT)
A five-year-old little girl was the apple of her father’s eye. She was sweet and lovable, but very precocious. She was so intelligent that her insights often amazed her father. He was so proud of his little girl!
One morning, the father came into the kitchen to see his sweet daughter pouting. The father asked his little girl, “What has you so upset this morning?”
She responded with a soft voice and twinkling eyes, “I wanted mama’s cupcakes for breakfast today. I dreamed about them all night.”
Her father replied, “Sweetheart, you shouldn’t have cupcakes for breakfast; it isn’t good for you.”
Her reply was expected, “Daddy, those cupcakes are so good! It isn’t fair that I shouldn’t have my favorite thing right away in the morning!”
To this, her father said, “Honey, you need a healthy breakfast in order for your body to grow well and you to grow up smart.”
She replied, “It just isn’t fair that cupcakes aren’t a healthy breakfast, then!”
Like this little girl, many people in this world think this world is unfair. They believe that the world should operate “fair and square”. They believe that people should always treat one another with fairness. They believe justice should be found in all areas of life. When something goes wrong, they cry, “That’s not fair!” Who ever said life was fair?
Because God is fair and just and righteous, people have the misconception that life will also be fair and just and righteous. That is far from the truth. This world, this life, will often have moments where justice is perverted, righteousness is denied, and life is clearly unfair. Then, many reject God, complaining that because things are unfair and unrighteous and unjust in this world, it is God’s fault! They forget that in this fallen world, Satan has a say. Evil may be perpetrated. People will sin. Love may be denied. Even if you do everything right, something may go wrong. Even if you do good, you may suffer. Even if you are loving, you might be met with hate. Even if you take all kinds of precautions, there will still be accidents.
Our scripture for today mentions how Jesus is our “example” (1 Peter 2:21). His life definitely was not fair. The scripture reiterates that Jesus “suffered” despite being without sin (1 Peter 2:22). When Jesus taught the truth, he was maligned. When he explained the gospel, he was ridiculed. When he was put on trial, he was denied justice.
In one of his writings, Larry Richards described Jesus’ “unfair” situation this way:
“Life in this world isn’t fair. And we shouldn’t expect it to be. Life certainly wasn’t fair in Jesus’ case.
One of his closest friends betrayed Him. Together the “chief priests, elders and teachers of the Law” constituted the Sanhedrin, the supreme religious and legal court in Judea. Yet those responsible to administer law plotted to seize Jesus secretly and dragged Him off to an illegal nighttime trial (Mark 14: 43, 53). The same court, responsible for hearing evidence, sought to manufacture it (Mark 14:55), and even recruited false testimony (Mark 14:56–59). When Jesus affirmed His deity, He was immediately condemned, even though the Law then called for a full day to pass in a capital case between a finding of guilt and sentencing (Mark 14:64). No, there was nothing fair at all in the trial or conviction of Jesus Christ.
He came, He healed, He taught of God the Father’s love, and after the mockery of a trial His enemies took delight in spitting on Him and striking Him with their fists.
It’s something to remember when we feel life is unfair to us. Life in this sin-warped world has never been fair, even to the Son of God. The Apostle Peter, remembering that night and the following day, wrote, “If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:20–21).” (pp. 706-707, The 365 Day Devotional Commentary).
Despite the obvious examples of injustice throughout the life of Jesus and in the history of this world, Peter mentions in the scripture today that the faithful should respond to unfairness with “good, even if it means suffering” (1 Peter 2:21). Just because life is unfair does not mean that God wants you to give up, give in, return evil for evil, or exact revenge. When you suffer, do good anyway. Do it out of respect and love to honor Jesus, as your “example” (1 Peter 2:21).
Reader’s Digest printed the following bit of wisdom in one of their issues. It came across my desk many years ago….
People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest pride. Think big anyway.
What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you've got anyway!” (December 1982)
The first words found in the scripture inspire the end to this meditation; “God called you to do good…” (1 Peter 2:21). That is your goal. Don’t do good only if life is fair. Don’t do good only if it benefits you. Don’t do good to get ahead. Don’t do good with strings attached. Do good because God means something to you. Do good following the example of Jesus. Do good not so that others will reciprocate. Do good out of respect and honor for the one who died for you on the cross!
One morning, the father came into the kitchen to see his sweet daughter pouting. The father asked his little girl, “What has you so upset this morning?”
She responded with a soft voice and twinkling eyes, “I wanted mama’s cupcakes for breakfast today. I dreamed about them all night.”
Her father replied, “Sweetheart, you shouldn’t have cupcakes for breakfast; it isn’t good for you.”
Her reply was expected, “Daddy, those cupcakes are so good! It isn’t fair that I shouldn’t have my favorite thing right away in the morning!”
To this, her father said, “Honey, you need a healthy breakfast in order for your body to grow well and you to grow up smart.”
She replied, “It just isn’t fair that cupcakes aren’t a healthy breakfast, then!”
Like this little girl, many people in this world think this world is unfair. They believe that the world should operate “fair and square”. They believe that people should always treat one another with fairness. They believe justice should be found in all areas of life. When something goes wrong, they cry, “That’s not fair!” Who ever said life was fair?
Because God is fair and just and righteous, people have the misconception that life will also be fair and just and righteous. That is far from the truth. This world, this life, will often have moments where justice is perverted, righteousness is denied, and life is clearly unfair. Then, many reject God, complaining that because things are unfair and unrighteous and unjust in this world, it is God’s fault! They forget that in this fallen world, Satan has a say. Evil may be perpetrated. People will sin. Love may be denied. Even if you do everything right, something may go wrong. Even if you do good, you may suffer. Even if you are loving, you might be met with hate. Even if you take all kinds of precautions, there will still be accidents.
Our scripture for today mentions how Jesus is our “example” (1 Peter 2:21). His life definitely was not fair. The scripture reiterates that Jesus “suffered” despite being without sin (1 Peter 2:22). When Jesus taught the truth, he was maligned. When he explained the gospel, he was ridiculed. When he was put on trial, he was denied justice.
In one of his writings, Larry Richards described Jesus’ “unfair” situation this way:
“Life in this world isn’t fair. And we shouldn’t expect it to be. Life certainly wasn’t fair in Jesus’ case.
One of his closest friends betrayed Him. Together the “chief priests, elders and teachers of the Law” constituted the Sanhedrin, the supreme religious and legal court in Judea. Yet those responsible to administer law plotted to seize Jesus secretly and dragged Him off to an illegal nighttime trial (Mark 14: 43, 53). The same court, responsible for hearing evidence, sought to manufacture it (Mark 14:55), and even recruited false testimony (Mark 14:56–59). When Jesus affirmed His deity, He was immediately condemned, even though the Law then called for a full day to pass in a capital case between a finding of guilt and sentencing (Mark 14:64). No, there was nothing fair at all in the trial or conviction of Jesus Christ.
He came, He healed, He taught of God the Father’s love, and after the mockery of a trial His enemies took delight in spitting on Him and striking Him with their fists.
It’s something to remember when we feel life is unfair to us. Life in this sin-warped world has never been fair, even to the Son of God. The Apostle Peter, remembering that night and the following day, wrote, “If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:20–21).” (pp. 706-707, The 365 Day Devotional Commentary).
Despite the obvious examples of injustice throughout the life of Jesus and in the history of this world, Peter mentions in the scripture today that the faithful should respond to unfairness with “good, even if it means suffering” (1 Peter 2:21). Just because life is unfair does not mean that God wants you to give up, give in, return evil for evil, or exact revenge. When you suffer, do good anyway. Do it out of respect and love to honor Jesus, as your “example” (1 Peter 2:21).
Reader’s Digest printed the following bit of wisdom in one of their issues. It came across my desk many years ago….
People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest pride. Think big anyway.
What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you've got anyway!” (December 1982)
The first words found in the scripture inspire the end to this meditation; “God called you to do good…” (1 Peter 2:21). That is your goal. Don’t do good only if life is fair. Don’t do good only if it benefits you. Don’t do good to get ahead. Don’t do good with strings attached. Do good because God means something to you. Do good following the example of Jesus. Do good not so that others will reciprocate. Do good out of respect and honor for the one who died for you on the cross!