Living As Free People: As Slaves

Read 1 Peter 2:18-25 (NRSV)
18 Slaves, accept the authority of your masters with all deference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh. 19For it is to your credit if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. 20If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, where is the credit in that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
22 ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’
23When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Questions for Personal Reflection from Kathy Sizer
Think about your “power relationships”. In situations where you are “one up” in power, how do you use your power fairly? In what ways do you use your power unjustly?

In situations where you are “one down” in power, what unfair treatment do you experience? How do you respond? How would you change your response if you were “honoring all people”?

When have you done right, and suffered because of it?
(i.e you were given no credit for doing right or you were criticized for it or your situation grew worse?)

What is the hardest thing about being a servant for you?

What difference does it make to you that Jesus “came as a servant”?

Prayer 
How thankful we are that you did not cling to your rights, that you emptied yourself to become a slave for us….and to take upon yourself all the injustice and brokenness and pain of our world.

We ask that you would teach us to trace your path with our lives…..to have wisdom to discern when to work against injustice….when to bear it as you did….and to be those who honor all people.