“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:”
When someone acts with cunning toward you, how do you react? How do you endure harassment? This verse shows how Jesus suffered for well-doing.
For to this you were called
The antecedent of “this” is undeserved suffering. “To this” means that it is God’s purpose that we suffer unjustly. Peter has just exhorted the believers to whom he is writing to be the kind of employee who suffers patiently even when unjust. Now he turns to the example found in Christ.
“Called” (cf. 1:15; 2:9) — in eternity past, God called us to suffer unjustly. God did not call us to slavery but patient suffering from unjust wrongs. God called us into the sphere of undeserved suffering.
Phil 1:29, “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake.”
God calls us into the same unjust suffering that Christ suffered.
PRINCIPLE:
Suffering is no mistake; it is in God’s eternal plan.
APPLICATION:
Do you expect trouble to come your way? God called you for this.
Why should we submit to unjust suffering? It is God’s plan for us. When we determined to receive Christ, unjust suffering became our calling (1 Cor. 1:9; 1 Th 3:3). God ordained us to affliction. We often do not manifest the grace of God at work in unjust suffering.
