In 1 Peter 2, Peter encourages the believers who were scattered throughout Asia Minor to suffer gracefully. 

He starts off by reminding them (and us today) of who they are: chosen, royal, belonging to God (verses 9 & 10). In other words, their identity and their citizenship are primarily rooted in Heaven. We are called out of the world and sent right back into the world to become representatives of God’s Kingdom.

Verses 18-25 provide practical advice as to what this looks like: submit to rulers, do lots of good, live free on the inside so you can serve God on the outside by honoring everyone, loving the church, and even honoring the emperor who persecuted Christians!

Peter then has a special encouragement for servants and slaves who suffer unjustly: endure suffering gracefully. He reminds them of how Jesus responded when he was mistreated. Jesus didn’t defend himself, no deceit was found in his mouth, but instead he released healing, grace, goodness, and blessing, even while being brutally murdered.

Peter isn’t saying that we should simply stick our heads in the sand and be passive in the face of injustice. Rather, in God’s genius, suffering gracefully is one of the major ways how the Kingdom of Heaven invades earth and how good overcomes evil. If Peter had advised the slaves to pick up arms and fight for their rights, the Christian movement would have been crushed by the Romans in no time. Instead, Christians imitated their Savior, and eventually, Christianity took over the entire Roman Empire. 

Application: Do you struggle with constantly defending yourself and “fighting” for your rights? How could you follow in the footsteps of Jesus in a situation where you’re suffering unjustly? Ask Jesus to help you discern how to respond in such a way that his Kingdom comes “on earth as it is in Heaven.”