Responsibility – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Passage – 1 Peter 1 – 5 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 111 – 115; Proverbs 23)
Read the “1223 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” (1Peter 2:18-25)
Good morning. There is an old biker saying: “When we do good, nobody remembers; when we do bad, nobody forgets.”
But that’s the way people are. Aren’t you glad that God is not like that? If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But what glory is it, if, when you are buffeted for your faults, that you will take it patiently? Jesus didn’t do anything wrong: He knew no sin. Yet, there He hung on a cross between two criminals…
“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:33-43)
You can see it sometimes in the attitudes of the kids today. They do not want to take responsibility for their actions. Just like in the old gangster movies, as the criminal is being escorted to the police car, he turns to the good guy and says, ” I’ll get you for this!”
Why? It’s his own fault. Even the thief hanging on the cross next to Jesus knew it was his own fault he was hanging there. He knew that Jesus did nothing amiss. It is acceptable with God, when you do well, and suffer for it, that you take it patiently. Jesus said…
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
In a world of wrong, you may be persecuted for doing right. Are you going to accept it?
“And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” (Acts 5:40-42)
Are you going to accept responsibility for you actions. Are you going to rejoice when you suffer for doing right? Do what is acceptable to the Lord.
Peace.
Posted in Devotions by Pastor Ted Stahl with 1 comment.
Amen Pastor Ted. A good reminder about forgiveness as Christians, when we look at the cross and see the suffering and pain that our Lord Jesus Christ went through for us, let us keep the reality of the cross in our hearts.And forgive those that have trespassed against us .like the post .