Considering our calling as we wait for Jesus to come again
By Dean Collins
I am reasonably sure if I asked you to send me your favorite Scripture verse, you would not send me this one from 1 Peter chapter 2:
“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.”
What might also be true is that if I ask you to send me what you understand to be your “calling “ you would likely not tell me what this same verse suggests is a “calling “ we all have been given as followers of Jesus. Of course, we agree we are called to follow Jesus. If you have done so for long you certainly realize that our calling is not particularly easy. There is no cheap discipleship. But Peter gets more specific about this calling than we usually take time to think about. And the Christmas season is not a time we would normally choose to consider this calling. Maybe during Lent as we head to the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus. But not during Advent as we prepare to sing joy to the world.
Called to suffer
However, in the wait for Christ’s return, we must consider this calling. The above sentence comes in the context of Peter speaking to disciples not simply about suffering in general but specifically about suffering for doing good. None of us is particularly inclined to want to suffer, though we might accept that some poor choices can result in suffering. But to consider that we will suffer for doing good and that it is actually a spiritual life calling is at times hard to embrace.
The verse that really got me thinking about our often ignored calling appears later in this passage and says this: “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. “
Trusting when reviled
Revile is not a word we use very often. It’s a harsh word, used more today because we live in a moment where it actually fits our culture and, worse, our frequent behaviors with each other. To revile is to criticize in an abusive and angrily insulting manner. Does anyone besides me notice how often this happens in our social media? Using words to insult, demoralize, and humiliate has become a sport in our culture. The sad reality is that there are as many examples of Christians who choose to revile others as there are examples of Christians being reviled. I’ve done no official research on this, but is it possible that we in the church are actually reviling more than being reviled for the good we do?
Jesus endured not just some, but all, of his suffering for doing good. And Peter gives us a path forward in our suffering. We can choose to do what Jesus did when he was reviled; he continued to entrust himself to him who judges justly.
My problem (and you will have to decide if it’s your problem, too) is I tend not to wait for justice to run its course. If I’m reviled or treated unfairly, I want someone to pay for it and pay for it now. We have been conditioned to expect that justice always comes quickly and must come to our standards.
Waiting for justice
The Scriptures are filled with evidence that God is about justice and has actually initiated a just plan to resolve all evildoing. According to 1 Peter, our calling is to follow the steps of Jesus not only in suffering but in how we suffer. And the how-to means that we must entrust every situation into the hands of the One who judges justly.
The miracle of Christmas must include that our Savior was born not only to save us from our sins but also to keep us in his care in our suffering until his final appearance when all suffering will end and peace in our new heaven and earth is established for eternity.
Your time with God’s Word
1 Peter 2:18-25 ESV
Photo by Austin Human on Unsplash
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