We must keep on keeping on ( REPOST )

[VERMAURICE BROWN]

We must keep on keeping on ( REPOST ) 1 Peter 2:21-23 21For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; My grandmother always would tell me that " we should keep on keeping on to make it in this world of hatred, because we are no different than Christ. " Now I do know after seeing all the slander talked about Pastors and other Christians for speading The Word of God. Satan will try to get you off the Godly course with slander and hurt so we might act like the World of hatred. God is honored when a person endures unjust treatment with a good attitude and unrebellious heart. There is credit before God for suffering unjustly and being treated harshly while enduring it with patience. This requires fixing one’s hope completely on the grace to come. Such suffering is different altogether from suffering when a person deserves it. This is undeserved suffering when a person is doing right. We must patiently endure the unfair treatment, honoring the authority, and trusting God to take up our case. Christ is our example in how to suffer unjustly. He was without sin and did nobody any harm, yet He was executed on our behalf. While He was reviled, He did not taunt back and curse in return. He didn’t threaten anybody that He would get revenge. He simply entrusted Himself to God who is the Avenger of unrighteousness and the righteous Judge Who sees all (Romans 12:19). God will not let wickedness go unpunished, so we can rest in His hands when suffering unjustly. The key is that we understand that suffering is part of the calling of the Christian. The Christian will be taunted, reviled, and discriminated against at times in his life, and he must not threaten in return. He must just submit and be obedient, honoring the unjust supervisor even if everybody else speaks in a reviling manner. The calling of the Christian is righteousness and holiness despite suffering and persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12 says that “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Persecution and suffering is part of the definition of being a Christian. The world hated Christ, and they will hate His followers. Yet Christ has enabled us to live to righteousness. No amount of persecution, suffering, or unjust treatment allows us to continue in sin. We have been healed from the damage of the enslavement to sin and Satan so that we can be free to submit to Christ. Before we knew Christ, we had been straying like sheep which needed a Shepherd, but now we have come to the true Shepherd and Guardian of our Souls. He leads us where we need to go, protects us along the way from succumbing to evil, and He preserves our inheritance and sonship. I miss my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother with their words of wisdom from a hurtful past of persecutiion. They taught the family how to stay strong and know that God will always be with you like He was with Joseph through his trials. We must keep on keeping on by staying strong through the fight. Vermaurice Brown