Because the early Christians were accused falsely of all sorts of outrageous behavior, Peter urged his readers in I Peter 2:11-25 to be especially careful to live such honorable lives that even their enemies would end up glorifying God. This calling was especially difficult, because they often found themselves in unfair situations that they were powerless to change, in which they suffered unjustly. Amazingly, God called them and calls us to endure unjust suffering and gave us the highest motivation for doing so: Christ already endured unjust suffering for us.
God has always been with his people, in various ways and temporarily in Old Testament times and later and permanently in human flesh.
This first parable from Matthew provides the key to understanding all the parables and to entering the kingdom of God.
Christians need to learn to speak with joy, listen with discernment, and grow in grace.
