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Let's Read: 1 Peter 2:18-25
For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. - 1 Peter 2:20 NASB
In the Old Testament, there was a man of God named Daniel who could, by God, interpret dreams. Later in his life, after a turn of events, he became third ruler in the kingdom during the reign of Darius, king of the Persians and Medes. As his reputation grew, his fellow commissioners and officials tried to maliciously accuse him. But they found him blameless and faithful. When that didn't work, they deceived the king into enforcing a law against anyone who prays to any god or man for thirty days that they should be thrown into a den of lions. Daniel, aware of this, continued to faithfully pray. But when they caught him in the act, they immediately reported it before the king. Daniel was then thrown, because of the decree, into the den of lions. God protected that man of God, and had the lion's mouths shut before him. After surviving a night with the felines, the king eventually ordered his accusers and their families to be thrown into the den. As the scriptures has said, "they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones."
We are called to follow in the steps of Christ, even to suffer (v.21). Whatever we suffer, whether a fiery furnace, a den of lions, humiliation, or even a mocking of our faith. We find our strength in God through all that we face. For when Christ was being reviled, He did not revile in return. When He suffered, He uttered no threats, but always entrusted Himself to Him who judges rightly (v.23). For if we suffer for what we did wrong, what credit is that? But if we suffer what we do right and endure it patiently, this finds favor with God (v.20).
