Eastertide

April 27, 2023

Scripture Reading:

1 Peter 2:19-25
For it is to your credit if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, where is the credit in that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
‘He committed no sin,
   and no deceit was found in his mouth.’

When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Routinely a news story reports that someone is being freed from prison, some from death row because their innocence has been proven. In some instances, they are not freed because the court ruled that the case had been handled correctly based on the proof presented. Therefore, the sentence cannot be changed when new data proves the person’s innocence. That is just wrong, in my opinion. I thought of these folks, particularly when I read the above scripture. I have noticed that most of those, at least the ones I have seen on the news, are at peace. But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. I think we forget that God’s approval is the only important approval. When we are in sync with God, we can interact with all situations from the position of God’s love, even being incorrectly imprisoned. I must say I have been so impressed with people who have gone through this and were able to remain self-confident and self-assured.

Prayer: Lord, help us to keep our focus on doing right by you, which results in doing what is right for others. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.