Day 25: Megan Hongsukpant
1 Peter 2:23-25
“When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted himself to Him who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheet going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."
~
A few months into 2023, I started a Bible Study by Jen Wilkin on 1 Peter, called A Living Hope in Christ. It was my first study by this particular author, and I was glad to have an accountability partner in my friend, Suzy McClain, as we read through the book and completed the study together. (Even though she was living in Germany at the time!)
Honesty, I didn’t know what to expect, I just knew that in order to meditate on God’s Word, I needed homework each day. I certainly did not imagine (or desire) that God would reveal to me my sinful nature and ugliness. And ultimately challenge me to change to be more like Jesus.
Are you a defensive person? Do you feel that you constantly defend yourself when others accuse you of wrongdoing? Well, I am and I do!! I never realized just how much energy I spent defending myself and justifying my own actions. After reading 1 Peter 2:23, the Holy Spirit convicted me of my defensive attitude toward my husband.
Peter gives us clear reasons for enduring harsh treatment from others. Jesus Christ set the example for us. He committed no sin and yet He didn’t defend Himself or retaliate against those who opposed Him and treated Him wrongfully. And if anyone had the complete justification for defending Himself, it was our holy and sinless Savior who “bore our sins in His body”. Instead of retaliating against His enemies, Jesus continued to entrust Himself to “Him who judges justly”.
In His name and honor, we are called to live righteously. So, what did this mean for me? How was I going to change this bad habit and be more like Jesus? I started praying daily for the Holy Spirit to intervene and to give me a healthy reaction to accusations. I meditated on these Bible Verses, and I repeated them every day. I wrote them on index cards and put them where I could visibly see them each day. I listened to the Holy Spirit speak to me and remind me that God is always with me and present, and He sees my actions, my failures, my faults, and yet, He still loves me and promises to justly judge me.
These Bible Verses penetrated my soul and as a result of the Holy Spirit intervening, I began to see changes in my unhealthy behaviors. Instead of reviling, threatening or lying in response to an accusation, I “entrusted myself to Him who judges justly”.
But, even when I do, “go astray,” mess up, say something threatening, defensive, or unkind, my “gracious Shepherd” shows mercy, grace, and an incredible kindness in allowing me to always return to Him. Jesus is the “Overseer of my soul”, and I want to be more like Him every day. And I know that this requires an active participation on my part to be seeking Him through His word, talking with Him daily, and listening to the Holy Spirit as I quiet my heart and mind.
~
"Father God, I thank You for Your goodness, Your compassion, Your grace, Your mercy, Your love, and Your patience. I pray and I beg that the Holy Spirit will constantly intervene in our relations with others and that our responses to mistreatment or harm, will be a reflection of Your love and grace in our lives. Thank you, Father God, that Jesus carried our own sin on His shoulders, that He bore the punishment so that we may have a personal relationship with our Creator. Thank you that His punishment has brought us peace and by His wounds we have been healed. We love you, Jesus. In Your precious and holy name, Amen."
“When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted himself to Him who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheet going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."
~
A few months into 2023, I started a Bible Study by Jen Wilkin on 1 Peter, called A Living Hope in Christ. It was my first study by this particular author, and I was glad to have an accountability partner in my friend, Suzy McClain, as we read through the book and completed the study together. (Even though she was living in Germany at the time!)
Honesty, I didn’t know what to expect, I just knew that in order to meditate on God’s Word, I needed homework each day. I certainly did not imagine (or desire) that God would reveal to me my sinful nature and ugliness. And ultimately challenge me to change to be more like Jesus.
Are you a defensive person? Do you feel that you constantly defend yourself when others accuse you of wrongdoing? Well, I am and I do!! I never realized just how much energy I spent defending myself and justifying my own actions. After reading 1 Peter 2:23, the Holy Spirit convicted me of my defensive attitude toward my husband.
Peter gives us clear reasons for enduring harsh treatment from others. Jesus Christ set the example for us. He committed no sin and yet He didn’t defend Himself or retaliate against those who opposed Him and treated Him wrongfully. And if anyone had the complete justification for defending Himself, it was our holy and sinless Savior who “bore our sins in His body”. Instead of retaliating against His enemies, Jesus continued to entrust Himself to “Him who judges justly”.
In His name and honor, we are called to live righteously. So, what did this mean for me? How was I going to change this bad habit and be more like Jesus? I started praying daily for the Holy Spirit to intervene and to give me a healthy reaction to accusations. I meditated on these Bible Verses, and I repeated them every day. I wrote them on index cards and put them where I could visibly see them each day. I listened to the Holy Spirit speak to me and remind me that God is always with me and present, and He sees my actions, my failures, my faults, and yet, He still loves me and promises to justly judge me.
These Bible Verses penetrated my soul and as a result of the Holy Spirit intervening, I began to see changes in my unhealthy behaviors. Instead of reviling, threatening or lying in response to an accusation, I “entrusted myself to Him who judges justly”.
But, even when I do, “go astray,” mess up, say something threatening, defensive, or unkind, my “gracious Shepherd” shows mercy, grace, and an incredible kindness in allowing me to always return to Him. Jesus is the “Overseer of my soul”, and I want to be more like Him every day. And I know that this requires an active participation on my part to be seeking Him through His word, talking with Him daily, and listening to the Holy Spirit as I quiet my heart and mind.
~
"Father God, I thank You for Your goodness, Your compassion, Your grace, Your mercy, Your love, and Your patience. I pray and I beg that the Holy Spirit will constantly intervene in our relations with others and that our responses to mistreatment or harm, will be a reflection of Your love and grace in our lives. Thank you, Father God, that Jesus carried our own sin on His shoulders, that He bore the punishment so that we may have a personal relationship with our Creator. Thank you that His punishment has brought us peace and by His wounds we have been healed. We love you, Jesus. In Your precious and holy name, Amen."
Posted in Boast in the Lord \'24 pt2
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