Commendable Before God

DEVOTION 1 PETER COMMENDABLE BEFORE GOD 1 Peter 2:18-22 18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." NIV Surely not one of us is a slave or a master, but it would appear in modern times we could substitute the words employee and employer in their place. It would seem rather natural for many employees to always complain about the boss. I have heard this type of moaning and groaning about how dumb or stupid the bosses are and how the employee could do so much better. I think the point here though is all about being a believer in a non-believing environment. It does not bring any glory to God if as an employee believers do a poor job. It does not bring any glory to God is a believer never lets anyone know they are a believer either. Now if we get reprimanded for doing poorly because we have done poorly it brings no glory to God. But if we work at the best possible manner we can, giving all of our efforts when at work to our work, being the best we can be, doing the best we can do, and all with an outstanding attitude for the good of our employer and his company, then we bring Glory to God, even if we are mistreated in any way. I think in most cases the unbelieving employer keeps a closer watch in those in his employ who are Christians, looking for any excuse to find some kind of fault so he can point it out, making an issue about Christianity. If that happens and we are reprimanded for no real reason other than being a believer, then praise God, we are doing the right thing and it is commendable before God. People should not hear about this unjust treatment either, people should not hear about how bad a boss we have, or how dumb or stupid they are, for that would be having deceit found in our mouth. Jesus was silent, he did not accuse nor did he defame anyone in his suffering. We need to work with all respect toward those who employ us and keep silent if dealt with unjustly due to our faith. I want to be commendable before God.