Christ… suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21
Most people who suffer injustice become consumed by anger, resentment, revenge, and bitterness, so how can ordinary people like us follow the example of Jesus when we suffer? How can we choose to love rather than hate? It is possible to follow the example of Jesus…
When the Holy Spirit lives in you. Following the example of Jesus is not something you can do in your own strength. But it is possible when the Holy Spirit lives in you. “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly” (2:19).
This is more than you being gracious. A gracious thing means something has been given to you that you did not have before. The Holy Spirit is reproducing the likeness of Jesus in you. When you act like Jesus, you give clear evidence that the Spirit of Jesus lives in you.
When you know that God is just. “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (2:23). How was it that Jesus did not revile? How can we overcome the dark powers of anger, bitterness, resentment, and hatred when we are treated unjustly?
First, Jesus knew that God is just. Second, Jesus entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. Notice, Jesus continued entrusting Himself—He had to keep doing it. When He was betrayed by one of His own disciples, Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father. When He was falsely accused, He entrusted Himself to the Father. When He faced pain, He entrusted Himself to the Father.
Jesus knew, “There will be justice for me.” And there was. On the third day, the Father raised Him up from the dead and exalted Him to the highest place.
Does the Holy Spirit live in you? Are you entrusting yourself to the Father who judges justly?
