By Lilly Reuben
I Peter 2: 19 to 21
For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
We Christians are called to suffer for the will of God. Jesus Christ came to the world to suffer for you and me. He showed an attitude of Willingness to suffer.
Suffering can be classified into two ways: One is that all the deeds have consequences. What we sow, we will reap. That is, we suffer because of our deeds.
The second is that we suffer for doing the will of God. Jesus suffered for doing the will of God. This suffering will not have self-love or selfishness. This suffering will have love for others and love for the kingdom of God. This suffering will produce character that reflects God in us. This suffering will have sacrificial love.
So we must evaluate and introspect if we are suffering for ourselves or suffering for doing the will of God.
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