For what credit is there if you sin and are punished, and you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God. For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps. 1 Peter 2:20-21
My words…
Praise
Jesus, You are the Perfect Example – in all situations, across the ages. Your actions are lessons in how to comfort the sick, how to communicate peace to the violent, how to confront prejudice, how to teach, how to pray, how to glorify the Father – so many examples. But the example that clutches my heart and doesn’t let go is the example of how to be humiliated. You could have side-stepped the opportunities when they arose, but You chose to wear the yoke of humiliation. It was the only way to get from the manger to the cross.
Prayer for me
Since I am called to follow in Your steps, I am called to be humiliated. Teach me how to accept humiliation with dignity and honor. Being humiliated – it doesn’t feel good. But neither does crucifixion.
Forgive me
Forgive me for being rarely humiliated. It’s my own doing. If I share what I believe, then I open myself up to a spiritual black eye. If I keep my mouth shut and my hands in my pockets, I remain unharmed. Forgive me for taking the safe route.
Prayer for others
Lord, I pray for those men and women who valiantly walk into the path of humiliation every day. They open Your word to strangers and open their spirits to ridicule and their bodies to harm. Yet they get up and do it the very next day. There’s a need, and they fill it, no matter the cost. I pray that you will strengthen their armor.
Thank You
Thank You for enduring the humiliation caused by the very people You created and loved. In doing so, You cleared a path that I may walk to find favor with God.
