COMMITTING YOURSELF INTO HIS CARE...

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

“Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.--1 Peter 2:21-25

To My Beloved Daughters:

Read through that opening verse carefully.  It begins with "for to this you were called."  What is the "for to this?" The prior two verses answer this question. "For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God."

All who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer for righteousness sake.  They will suffer because they do what is good. They will suffer because they name the name of Christ.  Beloved, do not be surprised when it comes but glorify God in this matter.  It is a token of His divine favor. You have been counted worthy to share in the sufferings of Christ and therefore will be counted worthy to share in His glory.  A servant is not above His master...in Matthew 10 Jesus tells His disciples that they will be hated on account of Him.  The path of righteousness is more often than not a path of unjust suffering.   Jesus, the Beloved of God, the perfect and sinless One, the One who was completely obedient and in the will of His Father in Heaven suffered for what??? for doing good. He suffered in order to bring us to glory. He who was perfectly sinless and perfectly righteous and perfectly obedient and perfectly in the will of God was rejected by His own people and His own family.  He was a Man of Sorrows...despised, misrepresented, mistreated, misunderstood, maligned, and hated by the very creatures that He not only created but had come to minister to and save by His death on the cross.  

Peter says we have been called to suffering and our example in this is Christ.  Jesus' path to glory was one of suffering for righteousness' sake.  His darkest moment on earth brought the greatest glory to God and the greatest good for us. 

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So beloved, don't be surprised or shocked when it comes but in the midst of it look to Jesus...put your confidence in Him and His perfect righteousness.  Follow His example in that when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.   Jesus committed Himself into the care of His Father in Heaven.  His final words on the cross at Calvary were these:"Into Your hands I commit my Spirit." and having said that He breathed His last. 

No matter how much the world (or even your own family) may hate you, no matter how much you are misunderstood, maligned or mistreated, no matter how much they speak of your good as evil...YOU CAN KEEP HIS PEACE IN YOUR HEART.  He is the perfect judge.  He will fight your battles for you.  Commit yourself totally into His keeping and care.  Hold these verses close to your heart...commit them to memory.  Jesus suffered as if he was the worst of sinners and was crucified with criminals. "BUT GOD"...AND HERE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE VERSES IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE:  "AND THE PLEASURE OF THE LORD SHALL PROSPER IN HIS HAND." In context it reads this way:

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
¹¹ He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.--Isaiah 53:10-11

Because Jesus willingly and totally submitted Himself to His Father in Heaven, the will (or the pleasure) of His Father prospered in His hand.  "He shall see His seed" (that's us) "He shall see the labor of His soul and be satisfied."  That is what I want...I want to "see" the labor of my soul and be satisfied!  Beloved, God will exalt you in due time.  Vindication will come...maybe not in this life but it will come.  Surrender to him as your faithful Creator and do not grow weary in doing good, His pleasure will prosper in your hands and in your life. Look to the reward...press on...keep your eyes on the goal...lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares and run with endurance the race that He has laid out for you. Look to Him the Author and Finisher of your faith who for the joy (us) that was set before Him endured the cross. 

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,  that he no longer should live the rest of histime in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.--1 Peter 4:1-2

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. ¹⁴ If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. ¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffersas a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.--1 Peter 4:12-16

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.--1 Peter 4:19

Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.

Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord! --Psalm 27:11-14

and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.--1 Peter 5:5-6

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.--Matthew 5:10-12