Today's Devotional

August 24, 2005

Subject:  Wrong Or Wronged

1 Peter 2:20 - "For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God."

Working in the new ROTC program at Willowridge High School in Houston has been interesting.  Getting to know the kids is always fun because you never know how they're going to perceive you.  Initial impressions from the students about me seem to be that I'm simply a nice and fair guy.  Those are the initial impressions.  The Sergeant Major, my assistant, has been at the school for 25 years.  They know him well and many of the students continually voice their displeasure to me about him.  He doesn't give the students the benefit of the doubt.  If it appears they made a mistake, he "slams" them.  Sometimes it turns out they were correct, but oh well, the Sergeant Major just keeps moving.  

My approach is somewhat different and I often attempt to be just in all of my dealings with the students.  Although my approach is different than my assistant's, I feel like the students have the same responsibility in respect to each of us.  They must, as the verse says above, "suffer for it and take it patiently."

As Christians, sometimes we are wronged and sometimes we "are" wrong.  When we are wrong, God always shows us mercy in our wrongdoing.  Therefore when we are wronged, we should be less frustrated with it and show those who have wronged us the same mercy that God has shown us.  This is acceptable to God.

The next time someone wrongs you, take it patiently.  After all, God is doing that with you.

Carlen