Devotion for Friday, 6 May 2011 Anno Domini

Devotion for Friday, 6 May 2011 Anno Domini
“18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:18-25)
“Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.” If we accept a position of subservience to an employer, we must abide his gracious oversight as well as his unbecoming discourtesies. This we do as long as we remain under his authority and in his pay. If we are only humble in receiving a just and deserving reprimand, we are no better example than the common millingerer; but if we, with gracious conduct and wholesome attitude, respond gallantly and with understanding to those unfair and unjust treatments of others toward us, we stand noticeably above the common ground of unbelievers.
“For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” Why is it acceptable to God? A piece of clay loses its definition when treated roughly, but a stone remains the same size and shape after being tumbled about as before. That proves it to be a stone and not a piece of clay. God wants His own character to shine through us, His people. A true champion suffers far more cuts and bruises than an amateur because he immediately makes another try when he fails. Strong character remains strong character regardless the unjust assaults of the enemy. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” As Paul did, so must we, die daily to self. (1 Cor 15:31). Such a dying is a daily drawing nearer to Christ in eternal life. “For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” (Romans 8:36). Can we, being innocent, suffer the terrible ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ (Shakespeare) which the enemy and his children cast at us each living day? Christ did, and Christ was the only One of us who was without any blemish of guilt or sin. Being totally sinless, He suffered so unjustly for the sins of the whole world. Where is the fairness in that? When we consider all of the shameful acts we have done, or even thought, for which Christ has forgiven us, are we yet unable to overlook the smallest word of sass or the most meager of offenses against our own sin-blemished person? We have been forgiven ten thousand talents of gold by our Sovereign, and do we run out from His presence and cast into prison a poor man who owes us a single penny?
“Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.” God the Father does judge righteously. That would be our downfall were it not for Christ coming as a dumb Lamb to suffer injustice to relieve us from the very burden of justice. The IMPUTED righteousness of Christ is our only admission to Heaven. He purchased the claim, and He alone did not need the ticket. He gave it to us without charge. Just as the woman taken in adultery (represents ALL of us) who was guilty beyond any doubt, having been taken in the very act, opened not her mouth in defense, so Christ being totally innocent of any sin, opened not His mouth in His own defense though His defense was sound beyond measure. Can we die to self even as did Christ?
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” If we are dead to sins, and live unto righteousness, we belong to Christ. We are healed by the many cruel stripes He received on our behalf in the Roman court. But ere we knew Him, we were literally dead men walking. Those who are living in sin are dead as surely as was Adam and Eve in the Garden the moment they disobeyed. “ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Eph 2:1-6).
“For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” While you were yet lost and bleating in the rocks and crevices of the lonely mountain, the Shepherd heard your voice and came to your rescue, and saved you. What a blessing to have as your Shepherd the Bishop of your Soul. Not a mortal man called by the title, but the One to whom it rightfully belongs indeed! Have you been confirmed in THIS Bishop? Do you KNOW Him and Hear His Voice? See to it today!