VINDICATION BY DEATH

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 

  “He committed no sin,and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 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 cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 2:21-25 (NIV)

When Christ was being crucified he entrusted himself to him who judges justly, his father. And we entrust ourselves to Jesus who is the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. 

Think about this: Christ entrusted himself to him who judges justly to ensure justice, via the grace to be made possible by his death on the cross, for us. Now this may be hard to hear but, the example we need to follow is dying to ourselves. It's not so much about God vindicating us, but about us being like Christ even when, or especially when, we are suffering unjustly. Trusting God that he has us where he wants us, even when we are being treated unjustly, requires that we die to ourselves. Our need to to live for righteousness where we are at. 

This hits very close to home for me. Actually, it's a bull's eye. Because I can not see the end from the beginning, as God can do, I must die to myself and wait upon him, trusting that he has me where he wants me. It's not where I want to be, but where he wants me. My choice is to live by faith and love others within the circumstances. It's hard. It's killing me. But I entrust myself to the Shepherd and Overseer of my soul.

Father, help us to entrust ourselves to you, the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. Give us a glimpse today. Praise be to you in us today!