JANUARY 21, 1 Peter 2:20-25 

How would you feel if you were punished for the fault of someone else? If you were not the one who messed up the kitchen, or spilt the milk, or forgot to turn o the fan for an hour, how would you feel if mother scolds you? Probably, like most others, you will feel unhappy, or even angry.

Today’s passage teaches us to take all these well. Sometimes we may be accused wrongly by our parents or loved ones who do not mean it. However, there may be others who may intentionally accuse you wrongly.

The Bible teaches us to be like Christ in this aspect, to bear them patiently. Do you know the meaning of the word “martyr”? A martyr is one who dies for his faith. There were many Christian martyrs in the past; brave men, women and even children who laid down their lives for the Saviour and chose death instead of betraying Jesus.

It is unlikely any of you will need to be a martyr, but it is useful to learn from martyrs, and how they were able to glorify God in their sufferings. You learn to suffer for Jesus. But let us be very clear - If you were scolded for doing something wrong, that is not suffering for Christ! That is suffering for your own wrongdoing!

Suffering for Christ happens when your obedience to God’s will makes people unhappy, and they impact you in a negative way. It could happen to a Christian child in a non-Christian family. That child may need to suffer for Jesus when his father or mother punishes him for praying or reading the Bible. If you are in that situation, trust the Lord, dear child. Commit unto Him, our gracious Father, and He will see you through your present difficulties.

Thought: For all that Jesus suffered for me, let me suffer a little for him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to cast my burdens unto You, and I know You will see me through. In this way, I can learn to be a little more like Christ, for He suffered and complained not, but trusted in You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.