Friends in Christ Weekly Message
April 17, 2002

Although he was abused, he never tried to get even.
And when he suffered, he made no threats.
Instead, he had faith in God, who judges fairly.
1 Peter 2:23 (CEV*)

It is always challenging to look at Christ's character, since it should be the model for our own and yet we know we often fall short. When we are abused, our inclination is to try to get even. And we are tempted to threaten those who make us (or whom we think are making us) suffer. But this is not the way Christ responded.

Peter gives us not only indications of how we should behave, but the reason why. It is a matter of faith and responsibility.

Are we responsible for judging those we think are abusing us or making us suffer? Or are we willing to leave that to God? Do we think that it is we who can judge fairly? Or do we think that the one really fair judge is God?

May we each seek to let Christ live in us and change our characters into His image. May we be freed from the ugly and destructive attitude of revenge that so often afflicts us. May we put our trust completely in God, and put each challenging situation we face in God's hands.

Bill Samuel

* Contemporary English Version ©1995 American Bible Society.

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