“For what credit is there if you sin and are punished, and you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God” (1 Peter 2:20)
In comparison to some other Biblical subjects, suffering is not a topic that tends to elicit widespread enthusiasm. Nevertheless, virtually everyone faces some degree of suffering at various points in life. Therefore, we would do well to consider the counsel given to us in the passage quoted above.
While it is natural to avoid unnecessary suffering, there may be occasions in life where we are compelled to endure suffering in order to honor God or fulfill His will for our lives. Jesus serves as our example in this regard, for He “…endured a cross and thought nothing of its shame because of the joy he knew would follow his suffering; and he is now seated at the right hand of God’s throne” (Hebrews 12:2 Phillips).
This characteristic quality is one that finds favor with God according to our text from 1 Peter 2:20. Of course, it is often difficult to endure suffering in light of our natural desire to retaliate against those who make us suffer. But as 1 Thessalonians 5:15 reminds us, “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else” (NIV).
Jesus also encouraged His followers to embrace that mindset in a well-known portion of Scripture from the Gospel of Matthew…
“But I say: Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way you will be acting as true sons of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust too” (Matthew 5:44-45 TLB).
Finally, this passage stresses the importance of patient endurance in the midst of adversity. For instance, it is relatively easy to engage in discussions on secondary aspects of the Christian faith or exchange our views regarding prophetic events that are yet to come. However, it is much more challenging to display patient endurance in those areas where we must suffer to do what is right.
One commentary challenges us on this subject with a thought-provoking observation: “In parts of Christendom today, great emphasis is placed upon so-called miracles, such as speaking in tongues, healing the sick, and similar sensational acts. But there is a greater miracle than all of these in the age in which we live: A child of God suffering patiently and thanking God in the midst of the trial!” (1)
(1) William Macdonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary Edited by Arthur Farstad Thomas Nelson Publishers p.1991