Are you presently suffering under some trial, conflict, temptation, or grief of a temporal or spiritual nature? How are you responding? Is it possible that under your present circumstance you’ve said with Jacob, in Gen­esis 42:36, “All these things are against me”? Or is it possible that you’re fighting a bitter root of inward sin which is producing unpleasant and grievous thoughts towards God or others for the way things are?

It is also possible that you experience inward peace, quietness, and calm that enables you to cast your cir­cumstances on your almighty God and gracious Father. If so, this will cause you to express from your soul, at His throne of grace,

O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.Matt. 26:39, 42

How comforting to experience your soul’s resigna­tion to God’s will! How blessed when you rest in the truth of the sovereignty of God, even though your path seems so crooked. At such times the world can perish around you, people can depart from you, but you can lose all, self included, because you can by grace let God be God. How satisfying and joyful! Beloved child of God, this is a good place to be. This is the result of Christ suffering on your behalf and the evidences of the Spirit of Christ working in you.

This is what Christ teaches us from the words of Peter in 1 Peter 2:19-23. Let’s examine this in light of the sufferings of Christ in order to glean some lessons for our spiritual pilgrimage to glory.

Peter presents the necessity of servants being sub­ject to masters with all fear, no matter what treatment is experienced (1 Pet. 2:18). Peter then writes, “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully” (1 Pet. 2:19). This means that when the godly patiently endure unde­served suffering for Christ’s sake, they can be assured that God esteems it highly. Furthermore, patiently enduring undeserved suffering is the way whereby God’s people become more conformed to the image of Christ. When we do well, and suffer for it and endure patiently, this is acceptable with God (1 Pet. 2:20).

Next, Peter draws a beautiful line from our suffer­ing for righteousness’ sake, dear believer, to the sufferings of Christ. He states, “For even hereunto were ye called.”

Therefore, 'Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.'1 Pet. 4:12-13

You see, “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Pet. 2:21). You and I, dear child of God, are called to follow in the footsteps of our Master. When we do so by the grace of holy obedience, submission, and surrender, we will begin to understand and experience Christ-likeness. But remember, it must be for righteousness’ sake! This requires us to examine our ways in God’s holy presence so that we are assured that our cause is really God’s cause. When our cause is really God’s cause, then we will patiently suffer. Why? Because we will believe with biblical conviction and solid comfort that our present circumstances are ordered by the providence of God, and that He requires us to bear evil with fortitude and patience.

But do you ask how it’s possible to bear trials in a Christ-like manner? The strength to do so is not in self, but rather received from our suffering Jesus. As the Son of God, He not only had the power to remain steadfast in suffering, but He also willingly suffered as man to the highest degree, in order to sanctify our sufferings, strengthen us in them, and give us victory over them. Christ’s enduring in suffering without sin is the ground of our pardon when we fall into sin, repent of it, and seek forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ.

“Christ suffered for us.” He suffered not only to deliver us from sin so that we could be reconciled with God, but He suffered to merit grace to dispense to us when we suffer for His sake. This enables Christ to say to us, as He said to Paul when suffering from the thorn in the flesh,

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.2 Cor. 12:9

All the sufferings inflicted on Christ were unde­served. Men, devils, and God tried Him; yet the result was always, “He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.”

How glorious Christ is in His Person and work un­der suffering. Dear child of God, our Christ patiently endured unmerited sufferings because He regarded the will of His Father and the lot of His people in suffering. He traveled the pathway of suffering to assure us of sustaining grace for our suffering. Christ is our exam­ple. He says, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” Friend, commit your ways to Him who judgeth righteously.