June 2, 2023

Paulina De La Fuente
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’ For ‘you were like sheep going astray,’ but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
1 Peter 2:21-25

These verses exemplify the way Jesus lived on Earth. He truly lived set apart, not only because he committed no sin but because He didn’t relate to the world around Him in the same way everyone else did. His response to insults and suffering was contented meekness. Why? Because “he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

When I am not entrusting myself (my desires, gifts, doubts, struggles, purpose, future) to God, I’m so quick to get entangled in all the inconsequential dynamics and interactions with the people around me. Instead of the fruits of the Holy Spirit within us, our lives can be full of comparison, self-focus, retaliation, discontentment, and withdrawal in our relationships.

When we entrust ourselves to God, we are able to see everything else in this world with a heavenly mindset. We can know that He sees us, He knows us, He is for us, He is trustworthy to guide and care for us, and He is the perfect Judge who will ultimately right every wrong, whether some of that happens here and now or not until Jesus comes back again. Lord, help us trust You as our true Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.