Above Only Daily Devotional http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly Monday, AUG 6 Suffering for Righteousness Sake 1Peter 2:19-21 (GNB)

Above Only Daily Devotional
http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly

Monday, AUG 6

Suffering for Righteousness Sake

1Peter 2:19-21 (GNB)
God will bless you for this, if you endure the pain of undeserved suffering because you are conscious of his will. For what credit is there if you endure the beatings you deserve for having done wrong? But if you endure suffering even when you have done right, God will bless you for it. It was to this that God called you, for Christ himself suffered for you and left you an example, so that you would follow in his steps.

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Genesis 37:2 tells us that Joseph regularly brought evil reports about his brothers to his father. In other words, rather than joining them to engage in evil, he would report their evil deeds to their father. This is precisely where the hatred that his brothers had for him must have taken root. However, because he was doing the right thing, their hatred could not stop him from becoming all that God had called him to be. Daniel was also hated because of how good he was (Dan.6:1-4), but the things done against him also didn't stop him from becoming all that God envisioned for him to be.

There will be times that you will be treated wrongfully because you have chosen to stand for what is right and do only what will please God, but you must not give up because nothing done against you in such times will be able to stop you from fulfilling God's purpose for your life. Instead, those things will work together for your good.

It is a blessing to be persecuted for righteousness sake, Matt.5:10. It is better to be hated for doing right than to be loved for doing evil. Like Joseph, you may have been thrown into one kind of prison or isolation just because you have refused to compromise or do evil in one form or another. Be strong and rejoice in the Lord because that treatment will take you closer to your palace. Follow the example that Jesus left us of suffering even when He was innocent and doing God's will. God will lift you up in the same way He lifted Jesus up.

PRAYER FOCUS: Receive grace right now to remain strong and to keep doing what is right despite any negative treatment you may be receiving.

BIBLE IN A YEAR READING PLAN: PSALM 70-71; ROMANS 8:22-39

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