Christian Workers (1 Pet. 2:18-20)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 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 is 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.”