Enduring Unjust Suffering

Introduction

Good morning. If you will please open in your New Testament with me to 1 Peter chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter 2, we’ll pick up the reading in verse 18 in just a moment or two. As always, I’d like to thank Brother Lindy Baker and all of our song leaders for diligently seeking songs that help prepare our minds for studying God’s Word and even on the subject matter. Independently of that, he happened to pick one of my favorite songs, that song until then. Think about how amazing and majestic it will be to realize once and for all how unimportant this life is and how wonderful eternity will be to be a Christian with God forever. But while we are here, while we are facing this life, we sometimes have to face some unjust treatment.

There is no greater example of facing suffering, true suffering, true suffering that is unjust than what Jesus endured in throughout his entire life, but in particular on the cross. And so this morning, as we focus on the idea of how should I react when I am treated unjustly, when I am mistreated, afflicted, even persecuted, sometimes on purpose and sometimes by coincidence. How do I respond? Oh, Peter says in 1 Peter chapter 2 that we should follow Jesus’ example. In verse 18, servants be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing when mindful of God, one endures sorrow while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure?

But if when you do good and suffer for it, you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 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, for you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls. So note that Peter makes a direct application to Jesus.

So I have bad news. If you’re thinking if you are mistreated and it’s unfair, or that if you just explained your situation to me or to Peter in this case, and said, if you understood what was going on, you’d know why I wanted to retaliate. If you knew what they said to me, you would know why I committed this sin. That’s not the example Peter allows us wiggle room for. In fact, he says very clearly, if you look at verse 21, we have been called to this because Christ also has already suffered for you. And what has he done? Left you an example, so you might follow in his footsteps. We often talk about the example of Jesus and his teaching and in his love for others, but this morning I want to teach the idea of learning from Jesus and applying some very tough lessons for me, and I’m sure for some others like me in the room this morning, that we have to take what the world dishes out in a particular way.

And as we know from Jesus on the cross, it might mean and it will mean not getting the vengeance we think is right. There was a man who worked at an airport check-in counter, and a very ferocious and angry businessman approached him. He had been waiting in line for thirty minutes, and he was frustrated, he could see him in the whole line. That man’s face was going more and more red as the line went on. And the man came up and he started berating him. He said, Do you know how long I’ve been waiting in this line? Do you know how long this is not right? And of course, as luck would have it, as he’s going to print out his luggage tags, guess what ran out of ink?

The printer of this gentleman’s counter. And so he’s berating him. He said, How could you not have this ready? Why do I have to wait for your incompetence again? And finally, the man is sent on his way. The next woman walks up to the counter and says, Sir, how did you deal with that? He just treated you so unjustly. And the man who had been quiet for the entire berating of the other individual looked at her and smiled and he said, Well, that man’s going to New York, but his bags are going to Brazil.

It’s not quite the Christian reaction, but we can understand the impulse. The truth is we feel mistreated, and we can do something about it. We think we should, because after all, he deserves it. After all, it’s not fair. It’s not right. But as Peter cuts to the quick here in 1 Peter chapter 2, he makes it very clear. It’s not at all about what’s right or just, because if that was the case, Jesus would have never died. And if you notice in verse 24 and 25, I am the reason Jesus died. Not just some mean sinners who aren’t in the room, not just some mean sinners who don’t believe in Jesus, but I am the cause. Verse 24, he himself bore our sins. This group of Christians Peter is writing to, he bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

1. Stand Up for Doing What’s Right

By his wounds, you have been healed. So this morning, Peter has nullified the idea of what’s fair, of retaliation, and what’s right, because Jesus took it all. But let’s learn some different examples of Jesus and how he took unjust treatment and what he did. Well, see, he actually teaches us in a variety of different reactions to different situations. First one, if you’ll turn with me to Mark chapter 2. Jesus, of course, I know this shocks nobody, would stand up for doing what’s right, no matter what. In Mark chapter 2, though, as he’s beginning his ministry, at least according to the gospel of Mark, the Pharisees have one of their many, many problems with Jesus. And of course, one of their many, many problems is Jesus was there to teach to those who were, let’s say, seemingly less desirable than the Pharisees in their faith.

The Pharisees said, You’re dining with some pretty low caliber people, Jesus. Verse 13 of Mark chapter 2. He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, Follow me. And he rose and followed him. And as he reclined at a table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

There is a place for you. And as Jesus is dying at this table with tax collectors and sinners, the scum of the earth to the Pharisees, essentially, they look and they look at the disciples and they say, Why are you letting your good teacher souly himself and his reputation, and by the way, us, by dining with them? What is Jesus’ answer in verse 17? Because they need me. Jesus isn’t bullied by this accusation. In fact, we think about this, this is really unfair. Jesus came to do what? Seek and save the lost. In verse 17, he says, I am a physician, and who does a physician heal? Who do they find? Those who are sick. When Jesus says, I came to call not to call the righteous but sinners, it doesn’t mean he’s ignoring people who do what’s right.

He is looking for those who, like Levi, like those who had gathered at the table, saw their Lord, and simply followed after him. And so while there’s many applications from that text we could take on needing to follow after Jesus, knowing there’s a place for us, and not looking down on others, notice Jesus is being criticized for this, and he doesn’t back or bow down away from pressure. This is an important lesson because it teaches us that when someone makes an accusation against you, not retaliating doesn’t mean you’re a doormat. Not responding to someone’s evil or vile words doesn’t mean you just take it and walk away. But Jesus wasn’t focused on himself, was he? As always, Jesus was focused on his work from God and the souls he was there to help.

2. He Didn’t Retaliate With Violence

And so he did respond, but he didn’t retaliate. Because he was fulfilling God’s work to take care of lost souls. But perhaps we can ramp it up and go with the greatest example of unjust treatment. And this was Jesus. And if you turn to Matthew chapter 26, as you’re turning there, Jesus has already known and identified who will betray him, his disciple Judas. Judas, the disciple who had been with him, one of the twelve who knew him so well, Jesus knew he was going to betray him. Certainly this was unjust. Jesus did nothing worthy of betrayal. He certainly did nothing worthy of being crucified. And we’re going to see in both instances how Jesus responded. But in Matthew chapter 26, notice as Judas has come up to him, and he kisses him, as is the sign to know who to seize and when to seize Jesus.

In verse 49, he came up to Jesus at once and said, Greetings, Rabbi. And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, friend, do what you came to do. Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled? That it must be so. At that hour, Jesus said to the crowds, If you come out against me as a robber with swords and clubs to capture me, day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.

But all this has taken place that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. And so we see Jesus is approached in an unjust fashion. He’s grabbed as some sort of common robber or brutal thief. And he doesn’t respond. I think it’s interesting in the text when one of his servants reaches out, we understand it to be Peter from other accounts, and he strikes with the sword. Did Jesus say, Thank you for having my back, Peter? You defended me. You brought the fight back to those who brought the fight to me. Well, no, not at all. Jesus stands for righteousness. We saw that in Mark chapter 2. But what’s different here? The last phrase in verse 56 that we read. But all this had taken place that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.

What two motivations is Jesus showing again? To fulfill God’s will and to take care of lost souls. Jesus’ focus is always to do God’s will and to take care of our souls. And so in this instance, when physical violence is brought to Jesus, he didn’t retaliate. And here’s the problem if you’re Jesus and you want to follow his example and fight, Jesus couldn’t just have fought back. He would have destroyed them. Verse 53, do you not think I can appeal to my Father and He will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? Jesus is telling his disciples, I don’t need you to take up a sword to defend my honor. I could take care of this problem myself if I so desired. Can you imagine that fight, by the way, if Jesus had called on even just quote unquote twelve legions of angels?

How well do you think Judas and these Jews would have done in that battle? It would have been pretty bad. But that wasn’t what Jesus was there for. And so he didn’t retaliate with violence. And while it didn’t mean that he was taking it like in Mark chapter 2, where he did respond and stand up for righteousness, when Judas approached him, this is the idea of Jesus. When Judas comes to betray him, and he knows he’s going to be grabbed, what does Jesus say? Friend, do what you came to do. Why, verse 56? To fulfill prophecy and to do the Father’s will. So now we’ve seen Jesus be accused of doing something wrong when he was actually doing something righteous. We’ve seen him be publicly accosted for, again, doing nothing wrong.

3. Sometimes Silence Is Golden

What about later in Matthew chapter 26, when he’s before Pilate? If you continue reading in Matthew chapter 26, you realize that the Jews who are trying to persecute and prosecute Jesus are having a major problem because they have decided we’re going to lie. You know what the problem with the Jews was in Matthew chapter 26 in their lives? Not that they were lying, they were terrible at it. They were so bad if you read Matthew chapter 26 that their lies couldn’t even stick. They were purposely rigging the game and still couldn’t get him because their lies were so absurd and ridiculous. And Jesus is sitting here listening to all of this. And what is his reply? In Matthew 26 in verse 61, they finally find one that they can get him with.

And they say, We heard Jesus say, I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days. And the high priest stood up and said, Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you? But Jesus remained silent.

And again, to our first point, he stands up for what is right, what is righteous, and explains his rightful place as the child of God and king of the Jews. But if you skip down to Matthew chapter 27, this wasn’t the only time he remained silent. In verse 11, before Pilate, he stood before the governor and the governor asking, Are you the king of the Jews? And Jesus said, You have said so. But when he was accused by the chief priest and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, Do you not hear how many things they testify against you? But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge. And notice the response it invokes. So that the governor was greatly amazed.

Some translations he marveled greatly. I mean, think about this influence of Jesus. He is hearing all of these lies, all of this slander, all of these taking things out of context. Jesus didn’t say he was going to destroy the temple and rebuild it brick by brick in three days. He was talking about, ironically, his body being put to death and he would be resurrected. But he didn’t feel the need to correct every sort of misconception and misnomer. And by the way, it’s kind to call that his misconception or misnomer. These were lies to get Jesus on the cross. They wanted him dead and would do anything it took to get him there. Giving bribes, telling lies, and coordinating with the dreaded Romans. That’s how Jesus ended up before Pilate in the first place.

But Jesus remained silent. We’re going to make an application of this in just a moment. Can we stop and make the obvious one here? When somebody treats you unfairly or says rude, untrue, mean things to you. Sometimes, the Proverbs would teach, oftentimes, silence is a fantastic option of response. We need to think before we speak, and it would save us a whole lot of trouble. If you notice in verse 12, after Jesus has answered Pilate’s direct question, Are you the king of the Jews? Notice who Jesus is silent before. The chief priest and the elders. Jesus knew what they were after. He knew what they were doing. He didn’t have to respond. He didn’t have to counteract it. And you know who noticed? Pilate, a reasonable third party.

4. Jesus Was Willing to Offer Forgiveness

Pilate has all kinds of flaws, but you know what Pilate knew, albeit didn’t have the courage to act on? That Jesus was innocent. He saw the sham. He heard the lies, and because Jesus didn’t stoop to their level or get involved in a he said, he said battle, Pilate noticed. And so Jesus shows us again an example. When we’re treated unjustly, when words fly at us that are meant to hurt, meant to sting, and might even be completely fabricated to cause us harm. Sometimes silence is golden. And one other point. In Luke chapter 23, turn with me there. Jesus, despite this group that acting against him, the chief priests and the scribes, who not only lied, not only betrayed him, not only Judas who took the silver to punish Jesus, to get him captured.

Then you had Pilate, who knew he was innocent but was too big of a coward to stand up against the Jews. You have the Jews who are inciting the mob to peer pressure Pilate into crucifying Jesus. And if this group, and by the way, the soldiers who have spat upon and mocked Jesus, passerbuyers who have wagged their heads at him, this is the group in Jesus’ vicinity in Luke chapter 23. In verse 32, two others who were criminals were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called the skull, there they crucified him in the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do.

A different lesson for a different time would examine forgiveness. Offering, taking, receiving forgiveness. But at a minimum, can we see in the face of the most unjust suffering this world has ever seen? Jesus was willing to offer forgiveness. It’s later in the same chapter that that famous thief on the cross is mentioned. But even to this group of people who have put him on the cross in a sham of a trial with lie and slander after lie and slander, with the cowardice of Pilate, the rioting of the Jews who previously seemed to think he was the king. Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. When Peter says in 1 Peter chapter 2, I have to follow in the footsteps of Jesus when I am mistreated.

5. Fighting Our Impulses to Strike Back

Jesus has laid down an incredibly heavy gauntlet. His footsteps stay on the straight and narrow and do not vary one inch. And yet, if you’ll notice, he responds in different ways. He didn’t back off or cower in the face of trouble from the Pharisees and scribes in Mark II. He wouldn’t retaliate with violence, even though he could have burnt them to the ground in Matthew 26. He would stay silent when the moment called for it. And he was always willing to offer them forgiveness. As we think then about fighting our impulses, we need to see, first of all, thinking back to Mark chapter 2, we can’t be willing to cave in to pure expectations. It’s interesting in Mark chapter 2, we won’t reread it, but this is, of course, when Jesus is dining with the tax collectors and the sinners.

And in verse 17, there’s two sides here, and neither side’s going to come out liking Jesus in our first in our 21st century world. Do you know why that is? Many people say, well, see, there is Jesus always with the sinners, always hanging out with the unrighteous. That’s what Christians should be like. Nothing but sinners all the time. Condoning, live as you want to live, be who you want to be, because Jesus loves you anyway. Well, the Pharisees did need a lesson that Jesus was there to help the unrighteous. But in verse 17, it’s very subtle. Do you know what he says? I am the physician, and who did I come to heal? The sick. You know who he called the sick? Those very people that many modern day triumph and say, Jesus is always with the sick people.

He’s always with the downtrodden. Live as you want to live. No, Jesus said they are sick. They need to be healed. You don’t go to a doctor and he says you’re sick, and he goes, Well, that’s your problem. Thanks for coming in. You go to a doctor to find out what’s wrong and to let them do what? Diagnose the problem and help you solve it. Or live with it. Jesus says these people have a problem. And so he is not friend or foe to either side. He is equal in his praise and equal in his condemnation. If you do wrong, Jesus sees you as sick and in need of a shepherd. If you do what is right, that is because you have accepted him as a shepherd and have been made well because the great physician gave you the antidote and you took it.

And so when I think about my impulse to put Jesus on one side or the other, or when someone unjustly accuses me of something, I want to set the record straight. I want to cave to the side that’s kind to me. Jesus doesn’t play those games. He calls a spade a spade, as the saying goes. Am I willing to stand up for what’s right no matter what? In a world that tries to divide us in the sides, Jesus says there is only with God and away from God. Am I willing to kindly, gently, but with backbone take the stand that Jesus did? But that’s not necessarily the hardest impulse. The stronger impulse is to strike back. When somebody hits you, the impulse is to hit back.

As you turn to Matthew chapter 5, there was a story of a truck driver who stopped at a diner. And as he went into the diner, he ordered just a simple cheeseburger. He just needed something to get him through his route. And as he was sitting there dining, six men on motorcycles came in, and one gruff looking man reached over and stole his cheeseburger, ate it, and threw the wrapper back in the truck driver’s face. And the man sensing a conflict stood up and walked out the door. The man who had stolen the cheeseburger looked at the waitress and said, He’s not much of a man, is he? And she said, It’s funny you say that. He’s not much of a driver either. He just backed up his 18-wheel over six motorcycles outside.

Retaliation, though, is not in the Christian playbook. Because who gets that final decision? Who casts judgment? Who casts the punishment? God. He says, Vengeance is mine, I will repay. In fact, in Matthew chapter 5, Jesus has to teach this lesson to the Jews in verse 38. You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile with him, you go two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Jesus teaches a very tough lesson. When you’re hit across the cheek, the impulse is to strike back. Because they deserve it. It’s their fault. And it’s not fair that they get to hit me and I just have to take it. But Jesus says, you do what? Turn the other cheek. You go the literal proverbial extra mile. That’s a difficult application. It is incredibly easy to say, when someone wrongs you, you don’t wrong them back. But it is incredibly difficult to sit back and to not do that. But Jesus, as Peter tells us to look to him for his example, showed us that’s exactly what we have to do. I mean, we think back to that scene where Judas has betrayed Jesus, and Peter strikes off the ear, and Jesus heals him and says, put the sword away.

Consider an application. Jesus could have done what? Called 12 legions of angels and burned everybody in the vicinity to the ground. But he didn’t. Why? Because he was focused on God’s will and souls. We not only need to take the application of being focused on God’s will and souls, we need to remember who actually takes care of the problem. God does. God is the one who has the right to judge and the right to administer judgment. And so somebody doesn’t get away with it. Even though this shouldn’t be the conversation you have to have, we should do the right thing because God has commanded it. But no, just like the prophets did, like the true servants of Jesus have always known, God sees you being treated unfairly.

He sees the one who delivered the blow, but trust God to deal with it just as we should trust God with our lives. And so when we strike back, we’re teaching not only others that retaliation is good and noble when it is neither. We’re teaching ourselves by example that we can’t rely on God to administrate justice. Because that’s what we do when we step in the place of God. We act superior. We show a lack of trust and faith. Certainly, God is worthy of submitting to. Of course, one of the more difficult things to hold back is not necessarily physical violence, but the tongue. James chapter 3 has a lot to say about the power of the tongue, the restless evil full of deadly poison that could burn down an entire forest with just a single little flame beginning.

But notice what Paul says in Romans chapter 12. In Romans chapter 12, beginning in verse 17, as we think about this passage and how we should treat one another, notice verse 17, in case Jesus’ example wasn’t crystal clear, Paul covers any loophole, repay no one evil for evil. But give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God. For it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink, for by doing so you will heap burning coals on his head.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. An older preacher, mentor of mine, once told a story where he was driving to church. And about 10 minutes away, somebody cut him off. And doing the right holy thing, he decided to tailgate that person right on their bumper the rest of the way until he got to the building. But as the as the turn after turn kept going on and the route to the church building got shorter and shorter, he started to worry a little bit. He said, Well, I figured I’d have lost him two or three turns ago. I’m five minutes from the church building. Two minutes later, he’s three minutes from the church building. One minute later, he’s one minute from the church building, very concerned that this person who cut me off, and I have now rudely been on his bumper for the last nine minutes, is going to be somewhere I’m about to be.

And wouldn’t you know it? One minute later, guess where that person pulled into? The church parking lot, where the preacher would have to get up and teach Bible class that morning. Sometimes we have to think about the cost of our actions. When Paul says, repay no one evil for evil, it’s not simply to uphold justice, although that is admirable and a sense of duty and obligation we owe God. It is for our benefit, our joy, that we follow God’s command. When you think about the tongue, and you think about sometimes silence is necessary or a slow response, being quick to hear and slow to speak, as James might put it. We have to realize that God’s will is best for our life. Have you ever had a thought where he said, you know what?

6. We Have to Be Willing to Forgive

When I lost my temper, when someone said something mean to me and I said the meanest thing I could back, that really helped out my situation. That made things so much better in my relationship in my day-to-day life. Of course not. And not only does it make our life worse, it stains our garments with sin in the standing before God, who is the judge, the one who will administrate justice, and the one who says in verse 20, Vengeance is mine at the end of verse 19, I will repay. Verse 20, we are to help those who are enemies, not curse them back. Let God take care of it. One more point before we wrap up with some conclusions. We have to be willing to forgive. Matthew chapter 6, verse 14 and 15 is clear when Jesus says, you will only be forgiven insofar as you forgive others.

That’s hard. Because I can hear somebody thinking it right now. You don’t know what they’ve done. But I do know what the Jews did to Jesus. I do know what Pilate did as a coward before Jesus. And we’re to follow in his example. What do we do then? We have to be willing to offer forgiveness, but Jesus has a plan for this. In Matthew chapter 18, notice in verse 15 certainly, if our forgiveness hinges upon our forgiving spirit, we better be gracious with offering forgiveness. It better be on the table because otherwise God takes it off the table from us, and nobody in this room wants that. But in Matthew chapter 18, what do we do when someone has wronged us? Verse 15. If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.

Why? Verse 15, if he belongs, if he listens to you, you have gained your brother. If he doesn’t listen, verse 16, take two or three witnesses. If he doesn’t listen, verse 17 to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Again, Jesus has God’s plan in mind. What is best for our souls? Forgiveness. Clearing the air. That doesn’t mean rudely, we saw that in Romans chapter 12. We do not repay evil for evil. It doesn’t mean this is my chance to unload on somebody. That’s not what it says. If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault alone. Why? To gain your brother. Jesus is always focused on God’s will and saving souls.

Conclusion

And as his follower, I must be too. And there’s no room in God’s will or saving souls for grudges, vengeance, or petty insults. There’s no room on that straight and narrow pathway. And so, some quick points as we conclude. How can we overcome? How can we overcome those impulses? One is, as we read in 1 Peter chapter 2, remember who you’ve been. This is one of the keys to this. In addition to looking to Jesus’ example and thinking, I have to be better, I have to overcome evil. Romans 12, verse 20, I have to take an enemy who’s hungry and feed him. I have to be better. First step to being better is to recognize I am nothing without the mercy and grace of Jesus. And Romans 5 in verse 6, 8 and 10, we learn just how far apart we were from God.

We were enemies of God. We were sinners in his sight, worthy of the wrath of God, and yet it is in those times in verse 8 God demonstrates his own love towards us and that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. When I’m dealing with someone who has unjustly accused me of something, said something mean, too pierced me, done something unfair and unbecoming.

Those actions have never come from your body. And yet we want forgiveness from others. And we certainly need and want forgiveness from God. And so if we remember where we’ve been and that I’ve made that mistake too, won’t that help us be more forgiving, more merciful, more gracious when it’s our turn to be on that side of the ledger? We need to remember who I’ve been. I also need to remember where I’m going. In 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 19 through 23, the idea is if you sin and are beaten for it, you deserve that. There’s no credit there. But if you are innocent and you are punished, there is credit. Credit to what? To be with God forever. Because God is watching the one who slaps you on the face that you should turn the other cheek to.

God is watching the one who insults you. And he’s going to administer justice and revenge as he sees fit, properly, and with the justice that God alone has and commands. But I need to remember I’m not living for here and now. I am living to be with God forever. The song until then screams to mind. Nothing in this life is worth it. But being with God is worth it all. If I remember where I’ve been, I can be more gracious. If I remember where I’m going, I can have more fortitude. And if I remember God is in control, I realize He has got this.

When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. When he was insulted, he did not threaten. Why? Because it was God’s plan to save souls. When I am enduring unjust treatment, it’s easy to think about what I wish could happen, what I want to do, or what somebody deserves. But here’s the bottom line. God already sees and knows all those boxes, and he knows and can take care of it way better than I ever could anyway. My job is to listen to Jesus say come and to follow after him. If you’re here this morning, you’ve never become a Christian, recognize that invitation to come is being offered now. Jesus has shown what it means to be a child of God, to make his will first and foremost in everything in our life.

And so if you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, you’re willing to confess him as Christ, as Lord, and all of that means. Repent of your sins, of the stubborn desire to do my will, not God’s, and are baptized, you can share in that death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Have your sins forgiven. Maybe you’re a Christian and you’ve not followed in the steps of Jesus, the forgiving Savior, the gracious Savior, the loving Lord. Realize that we can pray with you. We can pray for you. We’ll gather together and as a team, individually members one of another, we’ll march on to that wonderful day where we can be with God forever in heaven. If we can help you in any way, come forward as we stand and sing the invitation song.