For this is thank worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
– 1 Peter 2:19

Thoughts on Today’s Verse…

In the epistles of Peter, he repeatedly said conscience. He taught people to repay God’s love with their conscience. Regardless of how much suffering we endure, so long as we can satisfy God’s heart, then we will live up to our own conscience.

Peter is the model we should imitate because he loved Jesus Christ, completed His commission and shepherd the Lord’s sheep well. In his epistles, he neither asked for rewards from the Lord, nor did he testify about what suffering he had endured. What he pursued was in accordance with the Lord’s requirements, so he was praised by the Lord.
This reminds me of Paul’s words, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: From now on there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them also that love his appearing” (2Ti 4:7-8). Paul believed that he had endured lots of suffering, if God didn’t give him a crown of righteousness, then God wouldn’t be righteous. His labors were not built upon the foundation of conscience or care for God’s will but dominated by the intention to be blessed. This was not in line with the Lord’s will.

God’s words: “What Peter sought was pure love, and what Paul sought was the crown of righteousness. Peter experienced many years of the work of the Holy Spirit, and had a practical knowledge of Christ, as well as a profound knowledge of himself. And so, his love of God was pure. Many years of refinement had elevated his knowledge of Jesus and life, and his love was an unconditional love, it was a spontaneous love, and he asked for nothing in return, nor did he hope for any benefits. Paul worked for many years, yet he did not possess a great knowledge of Christ, and his knowledge of himself was also pitiably small. He simply had no love for Christ, and his work and the course that he ran were in order to obtain the final laurel. What he sought was the finest crown, not the purest love. He did not seek actively, but did so passively; he was not performing his duty, but was compelled in his pursuit after having been seized by the work of the Holy Spirit. And so, his pursuit does not prove that he was a qualified creature of God; it was Peter who was a qualified creature of God who performed his duty. Man thinks that all those who make a contribution to God should receive a reward, and that the greater the contribution, the more it is taken for granted that they should receive God’s favor. The essence of man’s viewpoint is transactional, and he does not actively seek to perform his duty as a creature of God.”

His words have shown us the answer and we understand that when we do the work of the church, we should learn to seek God’s will. In the process of our experience, we ought to examine our intentions and pursue to love God like Peter. May God guide us.