“But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. ‘And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.’”
suffer for righteousness’ sake,
“Suffer” – God does not make Christians immune from suffering. Everyone suffers in this life. We cannot get through life without pain. Some suffer more than others, but we all suffer. None of us are exempt from trial.
2 Tim. 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
Even the godly suffer.
God calls us to do well and suffer for it (1 Pe 2:20,21). That is our calling. God wants us to raise our suffering to a higher level than suffering for sin (1 Pe 3:13). Suffering for righteousness’ sake is suffering from taking a stand for what is right.
PRINCIPLE:
Unrighteousness has difficulty tolerating righteousness.
APPLICATION:
True righteousness irritates unrighteousness, for godly righteousness quietly condemns unrighteousness.
You may say that “It is not fair that I suffer for righteousness’ sake.” However, we do not expect to find things fair here in time on earth. People are unfair. Even Christians are unfair. In soccer, a referee may miss a call. That is not fair to the player fouled. That is not fair, but it is a reality. The refs are not fair, and the folks in the away stands are not friendly. All they do is boo us. There is no even break here.
Before we crush our hearts, we better learn that things are not fair down here. We are “strangers and pilgrims” here. We are on the devil’s playing field. If the world dines and dances us, there is something wrong with our testimony. They do not know where we stand. They do not know what team for whom we play. People know us by our enemies as well as our friends.
Lk 6:26, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
For so did their fathers to the false prophets.”
