GROWING SEEDS: Patiently Endure, Slave

 

"For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and

patiently endure unfair treatment."

1 Peter 2:19

We've all been there.  Treated wrongly for something we didn't do.....almost wishing you might-as-well-have-done-it-since-you-were-getting-blamed-for-it, after all. 

Think about the last time this happened to you.  Think about the last time YOU did this TO some one.  Kinda makes your eye twitch a bit, doesn't it?

It's time for a little confession: I've been that person doing the unfair treatment that Peter is speaking of.  Yep, for a host of many reasons....some of which had titles such as Insecurity, Pride, Anger, Resentment....I was the person he warned the early Christians about in his first letter.  I cringe typing those words for you to read...... 

But it's true......of all of us.  We wear masks that are so convincing we actually convince ourselves we are Justified, Deserving and Right to treat others as inferior to ourselves.  We "act" as though we are better, smarter, prettier, more qualified.  I find it quite ironic that in my Bible, the title to this series of verses is "Instructions For Slaves". 

A few years ago, my friend Stephen Marshall and I went Photohopping with our cameras around Franklin County.  We have this strange attraction to cemeteries and in his earlier cemetery travels, he had come across where a Franklin County family had buried their slaves in the back of their family cemetery.  As we stood there looking at the huge black cross that drew an invisible line between Slave and Owner, we couldn't help but think how much this family must have loved their slaves and treated them fairly......to bury them with the family, after all, was a big deal. 

And Peter goes on a few verses later, instructing the slaves with these words, "For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you.  He is your example, and you must follow in His footsteps." 1 Peter 2:21

I have a feeling that maybe....just maybe.....I was the slave Peter was referring to.......