It’s paradoxical. It’s twisted. It’s wild to think that the “righteous” often have to suffer at the hands of the “unrighteous.” It feels flat out unfair. But He says it’s going to happen as long as we’re on this planet. Why? It’s what refines and sheds us of us. It’s the gift that prunes and transforms us into holy vessels. Yep. Gift.
It’s the footprints that our Lord laid.
The fair thing would be for me (and you and you and you) to be condemned. That’s what we deserve. I mean, it’s not our world. It’s His. He sets the rules. His character is the standard — the only One worthy of reverencing. Yet we proudly walk around as if we own something or have the final say. We pick the fruit from the one tree He said to leave alone. The fair thing would be condemnation.
But Jesus. The righteous one died for the unrighteous ones. It’s radical. He takes our mess — our selfish, overreacting, hormonal mess — on Himself and puts His righteousness on us so that we can step boldly into the holy of holies. What in the world?!
Then He looks at those who dare to believe His provision and says, “My righteous one.” In spite of us, in light of us, still “righteous.”
We can’t do enough to earn that status. We can’t make enough casseroles or post enough spiritual quotes or wake up at o’dark thirty all month to have a quiet time in efforts to be called righteous. He names us that because of what He already accomplished. Let’s lay down that burden of perfectionism and rest in what He says, “righteous.” He speaks what’s true.
What did you glean from Peter’s words from the Kept study this week?
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All the just and unjust difficulties or pain that I may experience in my life does not stand in the face of the suffering Christ bore for me (for everyone). How dare I complain! The difficulty is still difficult, that does not change, but my attitude of “woe is me” really has no place!
Check out my blog post today for more of my thoughts. http://snowhytemn.blogspot.com/2012/10/wrongful-suffering.html
What a beautiful post!
LOVE this post. Thank you for the encouragement. God is calling me to shed me and is refining me right now. It indeed is a gift. I would rather have HIM than anything else. Be encouraged in your ministry, Kat!
How we are treated by the “unrighteous” is expected and understood, but when it is the “righteous” that is treating you harshly, that’s when it really gets hard. Sometimes you wonder if they use the same guide book….. We should handle our differences differently. It’s so sad to see the divisive and judgemental attitudes within the church, as in the “church” as a whole, not each individual church.
The honest truth. I love it. Such a great reminder and encouraging/motivating as well.
I was reminded of this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5ZtqZxvqTA
This is another one that is awesome
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUUmhnOPBdE&feature=related