1st Peter 2:20. “For what glory is it, if, when ye buffeted for your faults, ye take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” ACCEPTABLE WITH GOD. Not every problem is undeserved – Some difficulties happened when I swerved Off the course I knew was right and proper, To see if there was something better the world did offer – And found that the trouble was of my own making, Because of a shortcut I insisted on taking. There is no virtue or real reason for complaint – The problem was my own and the suffering was sent.
On the other hand, some things happen as a challenge to God. The difficulties came because of being faithful to His Word. Time after time attacks against us were made – Each one an affront designed to make us sad. But the Spirit within and commitment to Christ as Lord Made it so the suffering didn’t seem nearly so hard. God gave patience to endure whatever was sent along, And by His grace the weakness in me was made strong.
Not now too concerned with what might come to pass –
If God allows it, it won’t forever last. He knows the reason the event originally took place – And can change the whole matter into a work of grace. If it is acceptable to God, it is okay with me – What has happened is because He allowed it to be. With patience and trust I will just move along – Knowing if the Lord wants to, He will bring right out of wrong.
“May the words of my mouth and my actions be acceptable to Thee, O God. When things are hard to understand, help me to endure it all with grace. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
It is important for us to realize that suffering is often part of God's plan to bring results that could not happen any other way. Such suffering and misery can be accepted as a privilege when we are submissive. God accepts such suffering and the attitude that accompanies it as a reflection of our Lord and He commends it. In this way we follow His steps on earth though we can never actually follow in His steps. He was unique in His absolute sinlessness. Patience, calmness and confidence testify to the reality of our faith.
Our Lord was impeccable in His nature and life in that He could not sin. We have a sinful nature and in spite of the new nature imparted to us, we may sin. But that is never to be normal living to a child of God. God's standard for our life and conduct still is sinlessness. Willful sin is never to be expected in our lives. We are to be in subjection to God's will and not consider disobedience to Him to be an option. The Lord Jesus not only did not sin and could not sin, but there was nothing in His words that was not right and appropriate at the moment.