“What Does Your Response to Unfair Treatment Reveal?” November 26
Few things test us like being treated unfairly.
When someone misjudges us, criticizes us, speaks against us, or treats us harshly, our first instinct is often to defend ourselves, strike back, or make sure the other person understands exactly how wrong he or she has been.
But Peter wrote to Christians who knew far more than ordinary inconvenience or hurt feelings.
They were suffering for their faith.
And instead of telling them to demand better treatment, Peter told them something that runs against almost every natural instinct we have.
He told them to live honorably.
To submit where submission was appropriate.
To endure unjust suffering without returning evil for evil.
And to follow Christ’s example.
That doesn’t mean wrong treatment becomes right.
It does raise a searching question:
When someone sins against us, what does our response reveal about who we trust to judge rightly?
And could our reaction to unfair treatment say as much about our faith as the mistreatment itself?
