AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE OF ENDURANCE (5 OF 20)
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:21-25
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An Inspiring Example of Endurance (5 of 20)
Series: 1 Peter
Robert Dawson
1 Peter 1:21-25
One day, a bus driver was driving along his usual route. He didn't encounter any problems for the first few stops; a few people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well. At one stop, however, a big hulk of a man got on. He was 6' 8'' tall, built like a wrestler, and his arms hung down to the ground. He glared at the driver and told him, ''Big John doesn't pay!'' Then he sat down at the back of the bus. The driver was 5' 3'' tall, thin, and very meek, so he didn't argue with Big John. But he wasn't happy about it.
The next day, the same thing happened. Big John got on again, made a big show of refusing to pay, and sat down. It happened the next day, and again the day after that. The bus driver began to lose sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of him.
Finally, he could stand it no longer. He signed up for body building courses, karate, judo, and a class on finding your self-esteem. By the end of the summer, the bus driver had become quite strong and felt really good about himself.
The next Monday, Big John entered the bus and again declared, ''Big John doesn't pay!'' Enraged, the driver stood up, glared back at Big John, and bellowed, ''And why not?!'' With a surprised look on his face, Big John replied, ''Big John has a bus pass.''
No one wants to be mistreated, misunderstood or taken advantage of. We don't even want to feel as if we have been unfairly treated. How we respond says a lot about us, especially as believers. How we respond to adversity and suffering of any kind, particularly unjust suffering as a result of our faith, speaks volumes about - not just us - but our faith.
Peter is addressing believers who are suffering unjustly because of their faith. He does not give them false hope by saying, ''It's just a passing phase or it will come to an end soon.'' Instead, he teaches them who to respond to this kind of suffering ...
Series: 1 Peter
Robert Dawson
1 Peter 1:21-25
One day, a bus driver was driving along his usual route. He didn't encounter any problems for the first few stops; a few people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well. At one stop, however, a big hulk of a man got on. He was 6' 8'' tall, built like a wrestler, and his arms hung down to the ground. He glared at the driver and told him, ''Big John doesn't pay!'' Then he sat down at the back of the bus. The driver was 5' 3'' tall, thin, and very meek, so he didn't argue with Big John. But he wasn't happy about it.
The next day, the same thing happened. Big John got on again, made a big show of refusing to pay, and sat down. It happened the next day, and again the day after that. The bus driver began to lose sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of him.
Finally, he could stand it no longer. He signed up for body building courses, karate, judo, and a class on finding your self-esteem. By the end of the summer, the bus driver had become quite strong and felt really good about himself.
The next Monday, Big John entered the bus and again declared, ''Big John doesn't pay!'' Enraged, the driver stood up, glared back at Big John, and bellowed, ''And why not?!'' With a surprised look on his face, Big John replied, ''Big John has a bus pass.''
No one wants to be mistreated, misunderstood or taken advantage of. We don't even want to feel as if we have been unfairly treated. How we respond says a lot about us, especially as believers. How we respond to adversity and suffering of any kind, particularly unjust suffering as a result of our faith, speaks volumes about - not just us - but our faith.
Peter is addressing believers who are suffering unjustly because of their faith. He does not give them false hope by saying, ''It's just a passing phase or it will come to an end soon.'' Instead, he teaches them who to respond to this kind of suffering ...
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