“Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.” (1 Peter 2:18)
We cannot pick the cast of characters that surround our life. The one whom we love may be to our right, leaning his head upon our chest; the one who has soured on us may be to our left, ready to betray us.
Different times and places and people present different challenges to us. If we have our choice, we prefer to avoid disturbing situations. Who wants unnecessary drama? Certainly, Jesus could have cloistered in Galilee when He knew a trap was being laid for Him in Jerusalem. But, when He knew it was time to face evil head on, He set His face steadfastly toward the city which slew the prophets.
We live in a day when the concept of suffering injustice is intolerable. But Jesus left us an example that we should follow in His footsteps. “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Pet. 2:22,23).
Where we are prone to fight or flee, Jesus bore patiently and with dignity. Was such a response superhuman? It was without controversy, the mystery of godliness revealed. God has come in the flesh, to raise men to a state of goodness and glory never witnessed before. And it is in our own furnace of affliction, that God forges in us the image of His Son.
The world will one day be purged of all who sin and offend others. But in this day, God uses the wrath of man to praise Him. Thank God for the good and gentle; but thank Him also for the froward. He uses both to perfect us. Armed with the Spirit of Christ will we set our face toward Jerusalem? If we suffer with our Lord now, we will reign with Him in the ages to come.
“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” (Isaiah 48:10)