Grace Sets Us Free to Serve and Endure

``So if you think this is hard to do, you're right. How did Jesus do it? It tells you that right here. He continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He trusted his heavenly father with the process. Can you? Can I? That's how we do it, folks. That's the example that we follow. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. Righteousness. By his wounds, you have been healed. For you were strained like sheep but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls. [01:08:16] (50 seconds)  #TrustLikeJesus

You know, as Christians well, we how many times have you heard people complain about something not being fair? How many times have you said that? As Christians, we should be the last people that want fairness. Because you know what fair would be? Is that we would all go to hell for our sins. That'd be fair. We're being punished for what we did. That's fair. That's justice. But God's grace allows us to not have to do that because of what Jesus did for us. So don't be throwing that phrase out there. Well, it's not fair. Yeah. Grace isn't fair. That's the whole point. That's why it's grace. [00:52:40] (53 seconds)  #GraceIsNotFair

I don't think that's exactly what Peter is saying here. I think our calling is that when we suffer, we bear up under it with grace. That's the calling. That's what Peter is telling the people scattered in these foreign lands to do. Because he knew that every single one of them either were suffering or would be soon, including himself. It was an incredibly hostile environment for Christians. And Peter says, you have been called not just to suffer, but to suffer in such a way that shines a light on the gospel grace of Jesus Christ. That's our calling. [00:54:50] (54 seconds)  #SufferToShine

And I'm convinced that we don't spend nearly enough time praying for those in authority above us. I know I don't. I suspect that many of you don't either. And so that's the best way that we can fulfill this particular verse to honor the emperor, honor those who are in charge, pray for them. And don't pray that God would take them out of power. Yeah. Because I know some of you are thinking that. Right? There's a pray for Psalm, whatever, you know, may his days be short and may his rain be over or whatever. No. Pray that pray that, you know, that god would use them to do good things. [00:40:41] (41 seconds)  #PrayForAuthorities