SPIRITUAL
DIARY
Date: 12-30-03
My
Worship Time Focus: Christian workers
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference: 1Peter 2:18-20
Message of the verse: “18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with
all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who
are unreasonable. 19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of
conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20 For
what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it
with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently
endure it, this finds favor with God.”
(NASB95) “8 You who are slaves must accept the authority
of your masters. Do whatever they tell you—not only if they are kind and
reasonable, but even if they are harsh.
19 For God is pleased with you
when, for the sake of your conscience, you patiently endure unfair treatment. 20 Of
course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong.
But if you suffer for doing right and are patient beneath the blows, God is
pleased with you.” (NLT)
There
were many, many slaves when the NT was written, however the Bible does not
speak out against slavery, but the principles of the Bible do speak out against
slavery and that is why it has been abolished.
The principles in this section do apply with the employee, employer
relationship today. The Bible does teach
that a person should do a fair days work for a fair days pay, and there will be
times when believers are punished by their employer unjustly. Peter says that we are to submit to this ill
treatment for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Christian employers are to treat their employees fairly. Peter goes on in verse 20 to say that if a
Christian is punished because he has done something wrong, then there is no
problem with that, however if a Christian is punished for doing right and are
patient throughout the punishment then they find favor with God in all of
this.
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: I believe that because the USA
was built on the principles of the Bible Christians have not had to face the
types of ill treatment that believers have had to face in times past, and in
other countries today. With that said, I
believe that Christians are under attack more today in this country than ever
before and therefore these verses are going to apply to us even more as time
goes on unless the Lord does return for His Church. As a believer living in this country and in
this time I am to submit to these authorities that Peter has been writing
about.
The Word of God has been
challenging to my heart as I read it this morning.
My
Steps of Faith Today: To remember Proverbs 15:1 which says “A soft answer
turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.”
Memory verse for the week: 1Corthians 10:13
No
temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful,
who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the
temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to
endure it.
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