Lesson 11: Holiness in action – faithful to His administration

Read 1 Peter 2:1-25- https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1pe.2
 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.
19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
21 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.
22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
23 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.
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.


This lesson follows what we learned in our last lesson, except here God tells us how to work with our bosses where we work. There are many people in positions of authority over us in our jobs, and not all of them will be good or kind or even honest. We must obey them wherever possible. The only thing in which we cannot obey is if they demand we do something we know is illegal (stealing or hurting someone) or against God’s laws (lying, cheating, giving false testimony and so on). But if we do what is the right thing, we must also bear the punishment from our boss.

God did not promise we would live a wonderful life here on earth as His child. Our verses today show us how Jesus suffered – and He never did anything wrong. He was beaten and murdered for doing what was right, and we should not expect anything different for ourselves when we belong to Him.

What happens to us as Christians when we begin to want a good life here on earth? The biggest thing is we begin to change how we follow God so we are more acceptable to those around us, and soon we are not following God at all but are copying those who follow their own ways. We can never successfully follow someone else’s way because they cannot see even an hour into the future. Therefore the way they will demand things be done will change. Jesus says He never changes – He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is the only person we can follow without having to worry about what will be demanded tomorrow.

Suffering for Jesus is something we need to expect. Later in this study, Peter tells us not to be surprised at the times of suffering that come. We may think some of our suffering has nothing to do with Jesus, but we need to understand that our suffering is never directed by the person we see making us suffer, but by the forces of evil who hate God and everyone who belongs to Him.

*Read the following verses – what do they say about the world hating you?
*John 15:18
*1 John 3:13