—–
1 Peter 2:18-22 (English Standard Version)
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.
When you read God’s word, do phrases like that snag your heart?
Rrrrrrr….Lock the brakes up, pull off to the side of the road, we gotta’ stop here a minute, baby!
“For this is a gracious thing. . .this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.”
I’m thinking I want some of that.
And how do we step into this “gracious thing”?
By having a Bible study and looking up the meaning of “gracious thing” and discussing the cultural/historical context of 1 Peter and making an outline of chapter 2 and highlighting key words?
No, no, no!
We live the words; we step into the truth in our daily lives. We submit with all respect to the authority over us on the job. I know, this says slaves, but I don’t believe that we need to move this up the ladder of abstraction more than a notch or two to see its validity in the workplace.
When I began working again for my current employer after leaving the pastorate, I determined in my mind to be an excellent employee. When I worked for them 16 years previous to this, I was a very good employee, but God had seasoned and matured me over time, and it was time to “take my game” to the next level.
And this is possibly the main entry point – submitting to God by submitting to my boss or bosses, fair or unfair. And I have to say I have found tremendous blessing here, and not only that but I believe my confidence and competence on the job are at the high level they are because of this.
Do I sometimes struggle with this? Yip, just yesterday, in fact. We don’t get paid for the New Year’s Day holiday. And I struggle in my spirit with this every year, trying to fight off bitterness. But every year God answers my prayers, and eventually I am able to come back to being very thankful for my job.
