Surrender and Dedication: The Journey of Joseph and Jesus | Shawn Miller

Thank you, it is so good to be here with you this morning.

Our family has been absent for the last three weeks and being absent from your home church for three weeks seems like a long time.

I took the opportunity this year to sing on the Zalachan choir, so the first two weeks that we were missing we had choir programs and then last week our whole family was at the Koblen's cabin from Thursday through Sunday, so we had a family gathering.

So it is good to be here with you again this morning.

Before I go into the sermon, I would like to, from Merita myself and our family, express thank you and appreciation for the pastor, appreciation gifts that were given, the cards and gifts that were given back in October.

Thank you so much for just the way you gave and the notes that you dropped and the cards that you gave us.

It meant a lot.

So thank you for sharing those with us.

It's also really good to have our two granddaughters here with us this morning, to have Venet Rachel here.

It's always special to have family here and it looks like Kate and mom are busy this morning with two grandbabies.

They're in their glory, so it looks like they're going to have some fun with that For the sermon this morning.

I'd like for you to turn to our text, and first Peter too.

I'd like to go through verses 18 through 25.

This morning, as I was contemplating on what is Peter trying to tell us in this passage, I read and reread, and reread and reread and studied and again read the passage and trying to figure out exactly what is Peter trying to convey to his listeners, or the first people that read this letter.

And then how does it apply to us today?

And the title that I came up with out of this passage is this Servanthood Committed to our Mission.

Servanthood Committed to our Mission.

I'd like to read the text, and then I would like to look at two examples in Scripture that I think fall right in line with what Peter is telling us here.

The two words that I would like for us to have in our minds as we go through the text and as we look at the life story of Joseph and some of the life story of Jesus, the two words that I'd like for us to remember this morning are obedience and surrender.

Obedience and surrender.

Let's read 1 Peter, 2, verses 18 through 25.

1 Peter 2:18–25

1 Peter, 2, verse 18, servants be subject to your masters, with all respect not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.

1 Peter 2:18

For this is a gracious thing when, mindful of God, one endures sorrow while suffering unjustly.

For what credit is it if, when you say, for what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure, but if, when you do good and suffer for it, you endure?

This is a gracious thing in the sight of God, for to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps.

He committed no sin.

Neither was deceit found in his mouth.

When he was reviled, he did not revile in return.

When he suffered, he did not threaten but continued entrusting himself to him.

Who judges justly?

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

By his wounds you have been healed, for you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.

As I read and reread and studied this passage, I came to the conclusion that this is a huge ask.

What I just read is a huge ask from Peter to us as God's people.

How is it possible to consistently in whatever God brings us through.

How is it possible to live in a response to a high calling and a high standard like this?

So our son Andrew.

He's with Kazak Rescue, as most of you know, and we had the opportunity of having him at home over Thanksgiving and as he left on Wednesday.

Last Wednesday he left and he told us that they're going up to Pennsylvania.

They're going up to State College, which is close to Belleville, close to where Penn State is located.

They're going up to State College for a few weeks of training and in his mind the training was basically book study.

They're doing some physical training but it's not going to be there.

On Friday night I talked with him and he said yeah, dad, we got here and our instructors told us that you're going to be doing everything outside, you're going to be cooking, you're going to be sleeping, you're going to be outside until next Wednesday, a week.

And the thought just occurred to me wow, what would make somebody want to go through that program?

What would make somebody want to give up the comforts of?

He said there's a lodge nearby and next Wednesday we're allowed to go to the lodge.

What would make somebody want to go through the work, the dedication, the dedication and just everything that they go through to learn what they are learning.

It has to be a mission greater than themselves.

It has to be a mission greater than just wanting adventure.

It has to be a mission that they are willing to basically sell out for and to do whatever is asked of them because of their mission of someday helping people, which is the mission of Kazak Rescue, bring humanitarian aid to help people and to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

So as I look at this passage and I ask myself how is it possible to live at the standard that Peter is asking of us, then I'm hit with the thought that we have to know and be committed to the mission that we believe God is calling us to In order to live at a standard, as Peter is calling us to.

Turning your Bibles to Genesis, chapter 37.

Genesis 37 · chapter mention

The two characters that I like to briefly look at this morning in connection to this passage the first is Joseph, and then I'd also like to look at the life of Jesus.

I like to begin here and we're going to fairly rapidly go through, just skim through the life of Joseph and I'd like to hit some highlights of what he did, how he responded and how did Joseph keep the faith and keep his trust and end up the way he did?

I'd like to begin with reading Genesis, chapter 37, verses 1 through 11.

Genesis 37:1–11

As we go through these first 11 verses, I'd like for you to pay close attention to a lot of the details that I feel I often miss when I read.

When I begin setting the life of Joseph, I have a tendency to think forward and to think of all the victories he won and of all the good things and the big things that he did.

But I think in these first 11 verses there's some very key points to where it started Joseph on the right path to where he ended up years later.

I will open it after I read the 11 verses.

I will open it for observations of what do you see that might be important keys in Joseph's life here in the first 11 verses.

Genesis 37, verses 1 through 11.

Genesis 37:1–11

Verse 1, jacob lived in the land of his father's sojournings in the land of Canaan.

These are the generations of Jacob.

Joseph, being 17 years old, was pastoring the flock with his brothers.

He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives.

And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons because he was a son of his old age, and he made him a robe of many colors.

But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all of his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.

He said to them Hear this dream that I have dreamed.

Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright and behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.

His brothers said to him Are you indeed to reign over us or are you indeed to rule over us?

So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said Behold, I have dreamed another dream.

Behold the sun and the moon, the eleven stars were bowing down to me.

But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him what is this dream that you have dreamed?

Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you, and his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in his mind.

What are some of your observations?

Things that took place here that set the stage for the outcome of Joseph's life?

There's no wrong answers.

How old was Joseph?

17.

He was under whose supervision at this point?

His father, jacob.

He was still a lad.

He was a 17-year-old teenager, still under the supervision of his dad.

He was loved by his father more than his brothers.

You know, I'm 50 years old and up until now I have never seen that situation.

A situation like that turn out well to where one family member is loved above the other family members.

But this was the case here.

His dreams had a huge impact.

Apparently, he was not a guy that was weighing up and he was.

There were dreams that weren't your normal everyday dreams, huge dreams.

What was his dad's response when he told him of the second dream?

He rebuked him.

Normally it is if you say something, and for sure, if your parents are along, it's always a good feeling if you have their confirmation.

But his father rebuked him.

But then what does in the last part of verse 11, somebody tell me what that says he kept it in his mind.

So through all this, jacob loving Joseph more than his other brothers, he exemplified that with making a coat of many colors, probably a coat that has never been up until that point and never was after that point, loved him more than his brothers, listened to his dreams, even rebuked him because of one of his dreams.

But then it says but his father kept the saying in mind.

Jacob sensed that something big was happening.

Jacob sensed that there was a special blessing, not only from him but from God himself, on the boy Joseph.

So we have the setting Joseph is hated by his brothers.

He's already been rebuked by his father.

After the dreams he's even more hated by his brothers.

And then what does Jacob?

In the next few verses?

Jacob just very, it seems, sort of innocently, asks Joseph, your brothers are out tending the sheep.

Could you go out and check up on your brothers and bring word back to me for how it's going out in the pasture?

At this point I wonder what was going through Joseph's mind.

He was probably already thinking my brothers hate me.

There's 11 or 12 of them.

There's one of me.

I'm wearing my nice fancy coat.

They know my dad loves me more than he does them.

And here I'm supposed to go out and get a report from them.

And by the way, the other time I came back I brought a bad report.

It's in one of the first verses and I bet Joseph was tempted to say Dad, I don't know if I can do this.

Do you think it's safe for me to go out there?

You know how they feel about me.

But what did he do?

He simply obeyed.

He simply obeyed.

I will send you to them.

And he said here I am.

So he said to him go now see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock and bring me word.

We know what happened over the next number of verses.

So here goes Joseph out seeking his brothers.

Couldn't find them.

Gets word that they went to dothem, catches up with them and here they see him coming and they start planning.

They even start bickering and fighting amongst themselves.

What do we do with this kid?

Here comes that dreamer.

He's wearing his coat.

He knows his dad loves him more than us.

Let's kill him, let's get rid of him.

And they probably would have if it wouldn't have been for Ruben and Judah.

And it's amazing to me how something that seems really bad.

After they give up on the really bad plan, they land on a bad plan and it makes the bad plan not seem as bad anymore because it's not as bad as the first plan was.

So they decide to, instead of killing him, they'll put him in a pit with the intent of killing him, but then they sell him to the Ishmaelites and off he goes to Egypt.

I found it interesting when they brought the coat back to Jacob and this has nothing to do with the theme of the portion.

But when they brought the coat back to Jacob, they ask him to identify the coat rather sarcastically.

Can you identify this coat?

Does this look like Joseph's coat?

It's the only coat of many colors that existed.

So he had quite the band of brothers.

Let's forward to chapter 39.

Here we have Joseph, brought to Egypt, almost a victim of circumstances, because of what?

Even his dad, the situation.

His dad put him in, but Joseph simply obeyed and respected his dad's request.

Verse 39, or chapter 39, verse 2.

I shall read verse 1 as well.

Now, joseph had been brought down to Egypt and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard in Egypt, and had brought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.

Verse 2, the Lord was with Joseph and he became a successful man.

We know because of the boy that Joseph was, and because the Lord was with him, potiphar started noticing that anything this guy does becomes successful.

Anything he lays his finger on turns out right and therefore Potiphar makes him head over.

His whole house Trusts him like he probably never trusted any other man.

Now, joseph was not only faithful, he was not only obedient, but the Scripture specifically says that Joseph was a handsome man in form and appearance.

Verse 7 of chapter 39,.

And after a time, his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said Lie with me.

But he refused and said to his master's wife Behold, because of my master has no concern about anything in the house and he has put everything that he has in my charge.

He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife.

How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?

And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.

We read that Scripture and I know I immediately get in my mind, while Joseph was this superhuman young man that wasn't tempted by a temptation of seduction as of this, I would imagine this was a lot harder for Joseph than what we get when we read this Scripture.

He was a young man of under 20 years old, he was single, he was a handsome young man and he had just been betrayed by his brothers, so he was probably looking for acceptance.

And here he is confronted with a seductress that is tempting him to do something that goes against God's will, against Joseph's conscience a very evil thing.

First, it was because of his obedience to Potiphar that he was able to not yield, but even more importantly than that, it was his obedience to the God that he trusted.

At this point, joseph still didn't know what his mission was.

He probably still didn't know why he was shipped to Egypt.

He had no idea that someday he'll be head over all of Israel or over all of Egypt, excuse me and that he will be, literally be the physical savior to thousands and thousands, if not millions, of people.

He was unclear about his mission at this point, but yet he was obedient.

The false accusations of his master's wife landed him in prison.

I like to read verse 21 of chapter 39.

This was after he was in prison, but the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

And then the jailer.

Again, he was again in a different situation, but he had the same faith.

He had the same, even though he didn't understand that.

He stayed on the same mission and that was to exceed and to do well in any situation that he was in.

And the jailer noticed, and all of a sudden he was head of the jail.

He was head of whatever section of the jail he was in.

Then it says after some time and I don't know, was this one year, I don't know, was this two years, but after some time the King's Cupbearer and the King's Baker land in the same part of the prison.

He does land in his attendance.

Sometime later.

Both of these two guys woke up one morning and they had a dream and, with the reputation that Joseph had become known for in the prison, they come up to Joseph, or actually he noticed that they were a downcast.

So he asked them what's going on this morning and he found out that they both had a dream and they wanted interpretations.

So he, through the wisdom of God, his master, interpreted both of their dreams.

He first interpreted the dream of the Cupbearer and, fortunately for the Cupbearer, his dream was very positive.

In three days he will be restored to the position that he originally had.

But after he interpreted the dream, it's the first time we get a short, just a small glimpse into the struggle being real for Joseph the struggle of betrayal, the struggle of being used unjustly, the struggle of being falsely accused.

I'd like to read chapter 40, verses 14 and 15.

This was right after he told the Cupbearer what his dream means.

And then he says, speaking to the Cupbearer you only remember me when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this pit or out of this house, for I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit Up until this point.

All the things that Joseph had experienced, this was the first time.

This was the first glimpse into his life that we realize what he was actually feeling inside.

But because he knew who his master was, he was willing to keep going and not retaliate.

So after the interpretation of the first dream very positive the baker says oh well, that sounded like a good ending for the cup bearer.

Here's my dream.

Can you interpret it for me?

And unfortunately for the baker, his dream wasn't near as positive.

But his dream was interpretation was that after three days he will be hanged by his former superior.

Let's jump down to verse 23 of chapter, verse 23 of chapter 40.

Yet the chief cup bearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

The first verse of chapter 41.

After two whole years after two whole years so he had just interpreted the dreams requested that the cup bearer mention him to Pharaoh to get him out of prison.

And the cup bearer forgot.

And then it says after two whole years, pharaoh had a dream.

And Pharaoh got up one morning and he was totally puzzled with the dream that he had.

He brought in all the magicians, brought in all the his wise counselors.

Nobody could interpret the dream.

The cup bearer hears about Pharaoh trying to get an interpretation and then all of a sudden he goes oh yeah, I do have a slight remembrance of back when I was in prison.

I had a dream and there was a Hebrew, young Hebrew, that interpreted my dream.

Thank you, mr Cup bearer.

Two years later, two years later, this is what he said.

Then the chief cup bearer said to Pharaoh I remember my offenses today.

I remember my offenses today when Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me in the chief baker, in custody in the house of the captain of the guard.

We dreamed on the same night and he and I each having a dream with his own interpretation, a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard.

Two years later, joseph finally gets mentioned to the king.

The cup bearer finally remembers.

I wonder how those two years were for Joseph.

We don't read what happened in those two years, but as the story ends, as we go into the last part of the story, it was evident that Joseph did not lose faith.

He did not give up.

To summarize the rest of the story, he was brought out of prison after he interpreted Pharaoh's dream.

There was seven years of famine coming.

There was seven years of first.

There were seven years of of growth coming and then seven years of famine.

And Pharaoh makes, pharaoh puts Joseph in charge of those years and, after those years, to be in charge of the storehouses.

Like to read verses in chapter 41, verses 50 and 52.

Before the year of the famine came, two sons were born to Joseph as an earth, the daughter of Potipharia, priests of on for them.

To him Joseph called the name of the first born Manasseh for, he said, god has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house the name of the second he called Ephraim, for God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.

Joseph surrendered himself to God's plan, even if it did not at all make sense as it was unfolding.

His faith and obedience never wavered.

It didn't matter was he in the prison or the palace.

His faith and obedience did not waiver.

Because of his faith and because Joseph was able to keep going, and because Joseph was able to keep going without retaliating, because Joseph was able to keep going without striking back or without I don't know if he ever argued or not, we don't have a reference of that but he obviously kept going.

And because of that, joseph literally became the savior, the physical savior, of the nation of Israel.

He was able to reunite and forgive his brothers.

He was able to save physically save his whole family which eventually grew into the nation of Israel.

But it was because of.

He stayed with his mission through obedience and surrender and did not give in to the fleshly wants of retaliation, not respecting, reviling back whatever that could include.

He stuck to his mission.

Turning your Bibles to Matthew, I'm going to be reading quite a bit of Jesus, the life of Jesus, and especially when it came to his crucifixion and his trial.

Peter tells us here in our text.

He said in verse 21, for to this you have been called.

This is to endure suffering and to do well.

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example For the rest of the time.

I'd like to focus on the example that Jesus left us in.

What do we do when we are confronted with evil?

What do we do when we are falsely accused?

What do we do when men are reviling against us?

How can we keep walking without folding?

Did Jesus?

Was Jesus called to obedience?

Was Jesus called to obedience?

The first recorded words of Jesus were Matthew doesn't actually record these words, but Luke does, and this was when his parents were on the way back from Jerusalem and they were looking for Jesus.

They couldn't find him.

So they turn around, take three days journey back to Jerusalem, and here they find him in the temple.

And what were the words that Jesus said to his parents?

He said why are you looking for me?

Do you not know that I must be in my father's house Now?

One thing that Jesus had over Joseph.

I truly believe that Jesus knew his mission from the beginning and he also knew all the sufferings and everything that was coming because of that mission.

And we have proof of that because of what he said in Matthew 5, in the Beatitudes.

He talked a lot about peace.

He talked a lot about suffering.

He talked about reviling.

So Jesus knew what was coming, but even through that, he was willing to be called to obedience.

Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?

Matthew 20, verse 28,.

Matthew 20:28

He knew His mission Even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.

I'd like to read chapter in Matthew 5.

I'd like to read verses 9 and 10 or 10 and 11.

And these are the Beatitudes.

And it just so struck me as I was studying this that even though Jesus knew what was coming, he was willing to talk about it and he was willing to make preparation for the disciples with knowing what the future holds, and the Beatitudes in verses 10 and 11.

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

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you, falsely For my, on my, account.

Even though he knew how hard it will be, he stayed obedient to the Father.

Jesus learned obedience through His suffering.

I'd like to read a portion you don't have to turn here.

I'd like to read a portion in Hebrews Hebrews 5, verses 7 through 10.

Hebrews 5:7–10

Talking about Jesus in the days of His flesh, jesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to Him, who was able to save Him from death, and he was heard because of His reverence.

Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered and being made perfect.

He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Philippians Paul also refers to the obedience of Jesus.

Philippians, chapter 2, verses 5 through 11.

Philippians 2:5–11

Have this mind among you, which is yours in Christ Jesus.

Who thought who, though he was in form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of His servant, being born in the likeness of men and being found in human form.

He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross.

Through the obedience to the Father, jesus surrendered Himself to His mission.

The only way, as we read, as we read through some of the trial experiences, the only way Jesus was able to stand there and not talk back or not hit back or not call tens of thousands of angels to rescue Him, was because he knew His mission and he was committed to following through in His mission.

His mission was greater than His own person.

His mission was a lot greater than just Himself.

I encourage you to turn to chapter 26 of Matthew, and we're just going to read.

Take the time to read through some of these experiences.

I can read it better than I can explain it.

I'll let God's word explain itself as we read through some of His trial experiences and, just as you take in these words, try to put yourself in Jesus' shoes and what he might have been experienced, and continually asking ourselves the question how could he react this way?

How could he go through this without reacting.

I'm going to read Matthew, chapter 26, verses 36 through 68.

Matthew 26:36–68

Then Jesus was with them.

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane and he said to His disciples sit here while I go over there and pray.

And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.

Then he said to them my soul is very sorrowful, even to death.

Remain here and watch with me.

And going a little further, he fell on His face and prayed, saying my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.

Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.

And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping and said to Peter so could you not watch with me one hour?

Watch and pray that you might not enter into temptation.

The Spirit, indeed, is willing, but the flesh is weak.

This was tough, even though Jesus was a son of God.

This was tough.

I imagine he felt betrayal by His disciples for falling asleep here.

He was agonizing and His disciples couldn't stay awake.

Wow, I can identify with the disciples.

It pains my heart to think of the many times that I have fallen back or betrayed Jesus, to think of what he went through for us.

And again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, saying to my Father, if this cup, if this cannot pass, unless I drink it, you will be done obedience.

And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy, so, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.

And then he came to the disciples and said to them sleep and take your rest later on.

See, the hour is at hand.

The Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Rise, let us be going.

See, my betrayer is at hand.

While he was still speaking, judas came, one of the 12, one of His best friends, and with Him a great crowd with swords and clubs from the chief priests and the elders of the people.

Now the betrayer had given them His sign, saying the one I will kiss is the man.

Seize Him.

And he came to Jesus at once and said greetings, rabbi.

And he kissed Him.

Jesus said to Him friend, do what you came to do.

Then they came up and laid hands on Him and seized Him and behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out His hand and drew His sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off His ear.

Then Jesus said to Him put your sword back into its place, for all you who take the sword will perish by the sword.

Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father and he will at once send me more than 12 legions of angels?

But how then, should the scriptures be fulfilled?

That it must be so.

He knew His mission.

He was committed to His mission.

At least at that hour, jesus said to the crowds have you come out against me, a robber with swords and clubs, to capture me?

Day after day, I sat in the temple teaching and you did not seize me.

But all this has taken place, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.

And then all the disciples left Him and fled.

They didn't sell Him like they had sold out.

Joseph's brothers sold Him, but they sold out on Him and left.

What a picture of betrayal.

57, then those who had seized Jesus led Him to Caiaphas, the high priest, when the scribes and the elders had gathered, and Peter was following Him at a distance as far as a courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end.

Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus and they might put Him to death.

But they found none, though many false witnesses came forward.

At least two came forward and said this man said I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.

And the high priest stood up and said have you no answer to make?

And the chief priest said these men testify against you.

But Jesus remains silent.

And the High Priest said to him I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus said to him you have said so.

But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.

Then the High Priest tore his robes and he said he has uttered blasphemy.

What further witnesses do we need?

You have now heard the blasphemy.

What is your judgment?

They answered he deserves death.

They spat in his face and struck him and some slapped him saying prophesy to us, you, christ.

Who is it that struck you?

This was the Son of God.

This was God's only Son that had all the power at his fingertips, but yet he did not revile, he did not strike back, he was surrendered and he knew his mission.

Chapter 27, verses 11 through 14.

Now Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked him are you the king of the Jews?

Jesus said you have said so, but when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer.

Then Pilate said to him do you not hear how many things do they testify against you?

But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

We can make a case that Jesus silence well, it was.

Jesus silence was far more powerful than if he would have taken action.

Even the governor was greatly amazed at this man.

We're not going to keep reading through the crucifixion, but even as he was hanging on the cross, he was being reviled, he was being shamed.

If you are the Son of God, come down off of that cross, save yourself.

And the phrase of my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

First he was betrayed by his disciples and then, it seemed for a split second, because of our sin, he felt forsaken by his own father.

Let's read the text one more time 1 Peter 2, verse 18, servants be subject to your masters, with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unjust, for this is a gracious thing when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

1 Peter 2:18

For what credit is it when you sin and are beaten for it, if you endure?

But if, when you do good and suffer for it, you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God, for to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps.

He committed no sin.

Neither was deceit found in his mouth.

When he was reviled, he did not revile in return.

When he suffered, he did not threaten but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly?

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

By his wounds you have been healed, for you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the shepherd, an overseer of your souls.

How is it possible to serve at the high standard that Peter is calling us to today?

By being committed to the mission that God is calling me to, by being committed to the mission that you feel God is calling you to, and by being committed means being all in.

How do I stay committed?

Through obedience to the Master, no matter what the situation, no matter what the circumstances?

Through surrendering myself, by trusting in him, who judges righteously?

Folks, this morning, it is not our duty to bring righteousness, to bring judgment to those that we feel have offended us, to those that we feel have reviled against us.

That is not our duty.

As a Christian, as a child of God, that is not my duty.

My duty is to keep trusting in the one that does deal justly and that does bring righteousness.

So this morning, I don't know what you all are going through.

I don't know what the case is in each of our lives, but my encouragement to us this morning is if you are going through a hard time, to where you feel you've been blamed, you've been falsely accused, you've been reviled against, don't fight back.

Keep trusting.

Trust the one that deals justly.

That's not in my spot.

That's for God to do.

Let's keep trusting in him.

Let's pray Our Father.

Thank you for being in our midst this morning.

Thank you, god, that You're in control of everything.

Thank you that you know our thoughts.

Thank you that you know our heart.

Thank you, lord, for your Scripture that we read this morning in the devotional in the Sunday School in the sermon and the Scripture that was portrayed through the songs and everything that happened this morning.

Lord, we ask you to bring the increase.

Thank you, god, for who you are, thank you for being trustworthy.

We pray this all in your name, amen.