A Just God! Part 2

1 Peter 2:18 - The Example of Christ’s Suffering.

18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to the kind and gentle but also to the overbearing. 19 For one is approved if, mindful of God, he endures pain while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you take it patiently? But if when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God’s approval. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Romans 12 - Marks of the True Christian.

9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honour. 11 Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 No, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing, you will heap burning coals upon his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

John 15:18-21

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me. 

We want everybody to like us. But Jesus indicates here that everybody liking us might just be a sign that we belong to the world instead of belonging to God.

To His disciples, Jesus says, they do not belong to the world, and the world will hate His followers-them because of their relationship with Him.

The world is the people, who run after power and who will not stand up for the values of the Kingdom. The world hated Jesus, and so it will hate the disciples and persecute them. The world will do to the disciples whatever it did to Jesus.

We want acceptance - we want to be praised. Jesus doesn’t promise His disciples success, but persecution instead. Jesus said that His disciples would always differ with the values of society.

Jesus has taught us to trust our Heavenly Father for all our needs. We have to believe in our Heavenly Father that HE will take care of us. 

But instead we have become materialistic, egoistic and self-centered always looking to our benefits and comforts and the adulation that we think we should get from people. What would we not do to get that attention. We who have to chase God are chasing people instead. 

We don't trust God the way we should.

Jesus told His disciples, that no matter what persecution comes their way, they would always be at Peace. In the world you will have trouble. But courage! I have conquered the world.

The cost of discipleship: 

• To be never of the world.
• In Him our hearts are secured with Joy and Peace forever!

Listen to what Peter says, And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. 

The world thinks it has the answers. No wonder it is in a mess.

God's blessings are conditional. In Leviticus 26:3-12 God said

3 “If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, 4 then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. 5 And your threshing shall last to the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last to the time for sowing; and you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land securely. 6 And I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; and I will remove evil beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land. 7 And you shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand; and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. 9 And I will have regard for you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and will confirm my covenant with you. 10 And you shall eat old store long kept, and you shall clear out the old to make way for the new. 11 And I will make my abode among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. 12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people. 13 I am the Lord your God, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; and I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.

Kindly note the word if, at the beginning of Gods promise to bless… on the following condition, 'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands. 

When we disobey God we are not walking in His ways and following His principles.

God’s ways are different from man’s ways. GOD is JUST!

Please continue to read A Just God! Part 3