Ordained by God Part 5

If God’s people would take their
Bibles and turn to the book of First Peter. Specifically, chapter two. Some of you know that this is
one of what I call the work versus that hung in my locker for a
number of years, a verse that that I used to remind myself
of how an employee should function in this fallen world, how a Christian
should have a witness. Some would stammer at the suggestion that the word
servants, they’re essentially slave can be equated with our
modern word employee. I’ve done the math myself. I
have no problem. viewing that word as indicating
those in the workplace those who are doing service for another
even goes on to mention masters or if you will bosses. This is
one of the verses as I said that was instrumental to me repeatedly
in pointing me to the right attitude to bosses the right attitude
towards work the right attitude and motivation towards even difficult
bosses. But what stands behind it is
the great example of our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s Jesus Christ
that stands as the great example of this passage. And if you’re
wondering how we make that transition from being a good employee The
touch point is what we would call suffering. Peter, his first
epistle might even be relabeled if you could. Rename it. Like the epistle to the Ephesians
or the epistle to the Romans, you might even label the epistle
of first Peter, the epistle to the suffering repeatedly throughout
the book of. First Peter, the subject comes
up again and again and again, and it does so here. It’s the
suffering servant. The Christ is. The exemplary
one. The greatest example of a suffering
servant, the world has ever known. If you would pick up with me
in verse 18 of chapter two. Servants Be submissive to your
masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and
gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds
favor. If for the sake of conscience
toward God, a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if when
you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience?
But if, when you do what is right and suffer for it, you patiently
endure it, this finds favor with God. I had my share of difficult
bosses, especially in the big orange box. We just came up with
a theory that if you can’t stand them, just outlive them. That’s
how we would basically seek to deal with difficult bosses. And
Peter says we’re not exempt from either. Peter says if you’ve
got a good boss, that’s great. If he’s good and he’s gentle,
if he’s reasonable, if he accommodates all your schedule requests, if
he puts up with your own idiosyncrasies as an employee, if he seeks to
pour into you and develop you, if he takes your best interest
at heart and seeks to build into you and make something more of
you than even you desire of yourself. You got a good boss, good and
gentle. He doesn’t can you the first
time you walk in late. Points out your flaws for the
purpose of training you, not belittling you. Those aren’t
the only bosses you’re going to come across in life, are there? Not only those who are good and
gentle, but also to those who are reasonable. Peter’s whole
point here is that, look, let’s let’s define what a suffering
servant is. Let’s define what real suffering
even begins to look like. And in verses 19 and 20, he says,
what’s the big deal if you sin? What’s the big deal if you sin
and bring it down on your own head? But if you’re doing what’s
right. If you’re obeying your boss and
you’re doing your job. If you’re yielding to him and
you’re still being belittled and you’re still suffering. Now
God’s got you right where he wants you. Because he uses the greatest
example in all of scripture in verses 21 through 25. The suffering
servant. Look at those verses if you would. For you have been called for
this purpose since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you
an example for you to follow in his steps. Who committed no
sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth, and while being
reviled, he did not revile in return. While suffering, he uttered
no threats. But kept entrusting himself to
him who judges righteously, and he himself bore our sins in his
body on the cross. That we might die to sin and
live to righteousness for by his wounds, you were healed.
For you are continually straying like sheep, but now you have
returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. It’s no mystery. The one he’s
talking about in this passage is none other than our Lord Jesus
Christ. There’s nobody that suffered
like he did, nobody who has suffered more indignity. More abuse. So undeserved, so thorough, so
cruel. No one has ever suffered like
him. And no one has ever exemplified the way to suffer. Like our Lord
Jesus did. Jesus in this little passage. Essentially provides for us for
designs on this life that we live this Christian life. For
AIDS, if you will, that the Lord provides as we look at his example. We begin to get into those this
morning, it’s far beyond just a passage about work. It goes
far beyond just calling us to a right and proper way to live
in the world. What it gives us is our calling. It gives to us our calling, not
only as employees, but it gives to us our calling as Christians.
What are we to be? What are we to do? Peter uses the suffering servant,
our Lord Jesus Christ, as our model. First of all, I want to
look this morning at our Lord’s call in our life, our Lord’s
call in our life. Look at verse 21. For you have
been called for this purpose. Now, we just studied this last
the last few weeks. That little word called doesn’t
mean just an invitation. It is God moving in our lives
and drawing us to himself. It is effectual. It works. And we know ultimately that we
are called to salvation. We are called by God. It is an
effective call. The Holy Spirit moves in our
life. He brings us to repentance. He points us to Christ in faith
and we move. We are changed forever. But here,
Peter says, there’s another little element of that call. That perhaps
we overlooked. It is the call to suffering.
That’s the context. Look back again at verse 19 and
20 for this finds favor if for the sake of conscience toward
God, a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. That’s
what real suffering is, and that’s why Christ is the only real example.
For what credit is there when you sin and are harshly treated,
you endure it with patience, but when you do what is right
and suffer for it, you patiently endure it. This finds favor with
God, for you have been called for this purpose. The pastor, I thought it was
all going to be. Roses and happiness and joy and bliss, this Christian
life. Forgiven, right? So what Peter
says? Peter says you’ve been called
to a life of difficulty. It’s part and parcel of the Christian
life. It’s part and parcel of that glorious calling that we
learned about just last Lord’s Day. God did set his love upon
you. God did beckon you to himself
in a way that no one. Could ignore. But. That call was not only a call
to salvation, it’s a call to follow and walk with Christ.
It’s a call to follow and walk with Christ, even through the
great fires of difficulty. A lot of times we call ourselves
Christians. We want to snatch hold of the
label Christian. But we never even do the math
of what that is supposed to look like, what that obligates us
to. What we signed up for. What kind of people are we supposed
to be? The particular things that we’re called to do as Christians. The last thing that comes to
our mind is suffering. We think that Jesus took care
of all of that. He suffered and paid the penalty
for our sin. There’s a part of this suffering
that is left for us, it’s our lot. And its design is to grow
us in patience and in godliness, it’s to purify us, it’s to make
us more and more and more like Christ every day. Unjust, undeserved
sufferings. One pastor said it this way,
this is a very harsh and unpleasing article to the gospel. He says
this is a Funny element to introduce now that we’ve adopted the gospel.
We love the thought about the Lord Jesus Christ paying our
penalty on the cross. We love the thought of our sin
being forgiven. We couldn’t do anything with
it. It was an unbearable burden that was killing us by degrees. We stood as dead men before God
because of it. We could do nothing with it.
We couldn’t do enough good works. We couldn’t do enough good things.
We love the gospel. But he says this part of it is
a very harsh and unpleasing article to the gospel to a natural mind.
But the scriptures don’t hide it. Men are not led blindfolded
into sufferings and drawn into a hidden snare by the gospel’s
invitations. They are told it very often. So that they may not pretend
to be surprised, you know what he says? If you’re a Christian,
you can’t possibly be surprised by suffering. You can’t possibly
be caught off guard by the difficulties that come into this world. John
15, jot a few of these down, if you wish. John 15, verse 18,
if the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated
you. If you’re of the world, the world would love its own.
The world would throw its arms around you. warm fuzzies, but
because you are not of the world. But I chose you out of the world
because of this. The world hates you. Remember
the word that I said to you, a slave is not greater than his
master. If they persecuted me, they will
persecute you. If they kept my word, they will
keep yours also. John 16.1, later in that same
The epistle, these things I’ve spoken to you that may be kept
from stumbling. The very purpose that Jesus laid
these out is to give us. A heads up. Later on in that
same chapter in verse 33, these things I have spoken to you so
that in me you may have peace in the world, you will have tribulation. But take courage, I have overcome
the world. It’s not just the Gospels. 1
John 3.13 Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates
you. 2 Timothy 3.12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ
Jesus will be persecuted. Well, now that pretty much sews
it up, doesn’t it? Isn’t that what a Christian is,
one who desires to live godly in Christ Jesus? He knows that
he doesn’t have anything in himself to commend himself to God. If
there is any godliness, it is in the realm of Christ Jesus. And if he desires it, if he even
yearns a little bit for that kind of godliness. He will be persecuted. He will
be maligned. He will be put down. The Book of Acts predicted it.
Records that they were going about preaching the gospel. They
had preached the gospel in that city. They had made many disciples.
They returned to Lystra and to Iconium and Antioch, strengthening
the souls of the disciples. How? encouraging them to continue
in the faith. Why? Why isn’t it just easy for
Christians once we come to faith in Christ? Boy, I can’t wait
to get to heaven. I’m going to live in such a way.
No, because then immediately difficulty comes. No sooner do
you announce yourself as a Christian, then all the forces of hell are
arrayed against you. They went about strengthening
the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith,
saying, Through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of
God. We’re not exempt. I remember the old hymn that
said, Should I be carried on beds of ease while others fought
to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas? No one is exempt.
No one is exempt from suffering and difficulty. It is by God’s
design, and it is through many tribulations, not few, that we
must enter the kingdom of God. The thought is in the Old Testament
as well, mind you. Psalm 34, just one example. Many are the afflictions of the
righteous, not few. Everywhere we turn, it seems,
Sometimes every little place that we look, there are difficulties. But the Lord delivers him out
of them all. Jesus Christ doesn’t hide this
element of the gospel. God doesn’t hide this element
of the gospel from those who seek to follow him. It tells
us to count the cost. It tells us to pick up our cross.
A vivid image. for those who would follow Christ.
When Jesus Christ first beckons you to faith in Him, He gives
you clear forewarning of what could befall up to and
including even death. And we’re called to patience.
We’re called to endurance. We’re called to fortitude in
the midst of these difficulties and sufferings. Because no sooner does the Holy
Spirit call you out of darkness and into light, you become an
enemy of the world and a target of these unjust and unfair attacks. Glanced down at the passage,
if you would want you to notice just two little words. You have
been called for this purpose since Christ also suffered for
you. He suffered for you, and we could
take that just on the face of it, just as we already have.
We know that Christ paid our penalty on the cross. We know
that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for sinners. I have placed my
faith in him. I believe it. I know that he
suffered for me. That is the grand truth of salvation. That is the core of the gospel. But what Peter means here is
something even beyond that. It means that for sure, there’s
no doubt about it, but he’s talking about suffering. He’s talking
about a suffering servant. Look at the passage again, you
have been called for this purpose since Christ has also suffered
for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in his steps. He suffered for us not only to
pay our sin penalty. He suffered for us to give us
an example of suffering. Not only. I said there were four
designs on our life by Christ, not only does our Lord is our
Lord’s call in our life, but our Lord’s example in our life. Leaving you an example to follow.
In his steps. You know, this little word leading
you an example, that’s the word that they use to talk about the
practice of teaching children how to write or draw. You would
write a letter and then have the children copy it. You write
another letter and have the children copy it. Christians, Peter says, have
been called to suffering. We’ve been given a forewarning,
an advance notice of this. We’re told even before we place
our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that it is going to be a life
of difficulty. The life of gradually conforming
more and more to Christ and weeding out the sin in our life by God’s
grace. But we know we’re going to have
to suffer and we know we need an example, we need a mighty
example. And the example is Christ. One pastor said it would be high
presumption to aim at imitation of Christ in these acts of which
he did satisfying the justice for sinners. In other words,
Peter is not saying that we need to somehow suffer likewise and
die on a cross. It’s foolishness. It would mean
absolutely nothing, nothing. What he’s pointing to is that
Christians are bound to imitate Christ. In the arena of life,
meekness. humility, self-denial, patient,
constant suffering for well-being. That’s what we’re called to as
sinners. The interesting thing about these
verses that flow, verses 22 and following, is that they mirror
in great degree Isaiah chapter 53. Where again, we see the suffering
servant, don’t we? What did Jesus example do for
us. What do we see in Christ’s life
that we can emulate here in this fallen world as we face our own
suffering. Isaiah 53 verse 9 said his grave
was assigned with wicked men yet he was with a rich man in
his death because he had done no violence. Nor was there any
deceit found in his mouth. Peter says it very similarly.
Look at verse 22. Who committed no sin. Nor was
any deceit found in his mouth. We are familiar with the sinlessness
of Christ earlier in Peter’s epistle. We read about it. Flip back one chapter, if you
would, just for a moment. First, Peter 117. If you address as father, the
one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves
in fear during the time of your stay on Earth. Knowing that you
were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from
your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with
precious blood as of a lamb, unblemished and spotless, the
blood of Christ. He was perfect. He was sinless. That’s the great testimony of
Second Corinthians 521, one of my favorite verses in all of
Scripture. He, that is God, made Him, that
is Jesus Christ, who knew no sin. He made Him who knew no
sin to be sin on our behalf. God put all of our sin on the
Lord Jesus Christ. Why? So that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him. God put all of our sin on Christ
and all of his righteousness on us. It’s the blessed truth
of Scripture, but what’s contained there is that Jesus Christ was
sinless. He was sinless, he committed
no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth. Can we say that
as employers, employees rather? Goes far beyond. Just a work
verse. How do we conduct ourselves in
the day-to-day life of being Christian. How do we face the
difficulties of life? Do we deceive? Do we sin? All of Christ’s words said one,
as well as his actions, all of his thoughts flowed from a pure
spring that had not anything defiled in it. Therefore, no
temptation, either from men or Satan’s, could seize on him. Other men may seem clear as long
as they are unstirred, but move and trouble them and the mud
arises. Isn’t that true? You know what
he’s saying? All you have to do to bring out
the worst in somebody is provoke them a little bit. Jesus Christ was nothing but
holiness, a pure fountain, all purity to the very bottom, and
therefore stir and trouble him as they would. He was still just
as clear. We are called to that kind of
holiness. When we are troubled, when we
are stirred, we are called to Christ likeness in that realm. We are called to holiness. That’s
the example that Jesus is laying before us that he in the midst
of even these grave and harsh. Treatments that he endured. He committed no sin. Nor was
there any deceit found in his mouth, he didn’t prevaricate,
he didn’t lie, he didn’t cover things over with half truths. What else does he do for us by
way of example? We know that he’s an example,
we know that he’s an example to holiness. But he’s also an
example to patience and suffering. Look at verse 23. While being
reviled, he did not revile in return. They said some of the
most ridiculous, harsh, hateful things to him. If there was ever
anyone ever a time to uncork and let them have it, at least
verbally, you don’t have to call down a fireball from heaven,
but let him have it. We’ve read those words and we
know in our hearts we feel it. Not even a peep. While being
reviled, he did not revile in return. While suffering, he uttered
no threats. Was there ever a greater occasion? Do you know what you’re going
to get at the end of this day? Do you know what lies ahead for
you? Not Jesus. Isaiah 53 7. He was oppressed,
he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Now, there
have been people that said, well, we know that Jesus spoke in the
Gospels, it says that that’s not what he’s saying. He’s pointing
out the fact that Jesus didn’t stoop to defend himself, he came
to die. How could he not yield himself
up when he came for that purpose? Or very Lord Jesus, when all
of these ridiculous charges were laid at his laid upon him. He didn’t lash out at those who
slandered him. He didn’t even give them a single
word for the worst possible treatment that a human, not to mention
God, has ever faced. We are called as Christians.
We know we’re called to suffering. We know that we have an example
in Christ and the example is holiness, but it goes beyond
that to not only holiness, but patience and suffering is here.
Part of this duty that we’re called to as Christians is to
uphold our integrity and our lack of offense in those moments. So that our suffering. Stands
as truly unjust. This word revile, an interesting
word, it is this abusive, vile, harsh language that Jesus faced.
And in the face of that, this extremely harsh language. Jesus would not stick to it. Listen to Matthew. In fact, we
have time turn to Matthew’s gospel, if you would. These are so powerful, such powerful
verses as Peter is proving his point. We cannot overlook what
Peter is calling us to consider. While being reviled, he did not
revile in return. While suffering, he uttered no
threats. Look at Matthew chapter 26 and verse 57. Those who had seized Jesus led
him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and
the elders were gathered together. But Peter was following him at
a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest and entered
in and sat down with the officers to see the outcome. Now, the
chief priest and the whole council kept trying to obtain false testimony
against Jesus so that they might put him to death. They did not
find any, even though many false witnesses came forward, but later
to came forward. And so this man stated, I am
able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.
The high priest stood up and said to him, do you not answer?
What is it that these men are testifying to you? But Jesus kept silent and the
high priest said to him, I adjure you by the living God that you
tell us whether you are the Christ, the son of God. Jesus said to him, you have said
it yourself, nevertheless, I tell you hereafter, you will see the
son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the
clouds of heaven. He spoke. He just didn’t revile
them, he just didn’t utter these harsh threats, these epithets
against them. The high priest tore his robes
and said he is blaspheme. What further need do we have
of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his
blasphemy. What do you think? They answered,
he deserves death. Then one of the most. The part that has to give you
pause every time you partake of the Lord’s table, they spit
in his face, they beat him with their fists, others slapped him
and said prophesy to us, you Christ, who is the one who hit
you? If there was ever a cause for Jesus to let loose. Wasn’t
this it? Matthew chapter 27, if you would.
Verse 11, Jesus stood before the governor. The governor questioned
him, Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus said to him, It is
as you say. He spoke. And while being accused
by the chief priests and the elders, he did not answer. Then
Pilate said to him, You do not hear how many things they testify
against you. He did not answer him. With regard
to even a single charge. So the governor was quite amazed.
John’s Gospel issues the same kind of scene. Where Pilate is
shocked that Jesus won’t defend himself. Shocked that he won’t
answer back in kind to these men. But Jesus wouldn’t. Jesus
didn’t retaliate. Was there ever a cause for someone
to give a strident defense? Not only does Jesus give us an
example of a call to holiness and a call to suffer unjust treatment, but he also
gives us an example to a faithful commitment to a righteous God. Look at the verse. You’ve been called for this purpose
since Christ also suffered for you leaving you an example to
follow in his steps who committed no sin or was any deceit found
in his mouth while being reviled he did not revile and return
while suffering he uttered no threats but he kept which means
it was a continual effort on Christ’s behalf. He kept entrusting
himself to him who judges righteously only God only God can judge with
that kind of righteous judgment. He himself wore our sins in his
body on the cross. Jesus gave us an example of taking
our case and laying it before God and letting him be our judge,
not taking matters into our own hands, not harshly going and
seeking about vindication of others. One said it this way, this is
the true method of Christian patience, that which quiets the
mind and keeps it from the boiling, tumultuous thoughts of revenge.
Boy, if there was ever a cause for revenge, wasn’t that it? To turn the whole matter into
God’s hand, to resign it over to him, to prosecute when as
if he thinks is good and not as most who would rather, if
they had the power to do it themselves, to be their own avengers. There’s a third. Design in our
life by Christ’s not only his call in our life, his example
in our life, but his aim in our life. Look at verse 24. Take it in stride here, he himself
for our sins and his body on the cross, why that we might
die to sin and live to righteousness for by his wounds, you were healed
part of Christ’s death on the cross. was for the very purpose
to set us in motion of growing in godliness and in holiness. Jesus Christ paid our penalty
on the cross. And he did so that we might,
in turn, die ourselves to sin, that we might turn our back and
our very lives on sin as a principle and sin as those all of those
little practical ways that it belongs on to us to mortify,
as we learned in Romans, each one as we learn about them. And
to live to righteousness, to change the way we live, to live
and move in a different way. For by his wounds, you were healed,
it’s not talking about physical healing there. If there was a victory to be
won, Jesus won it. He conquered it at the cross.
To put it very plainly, if Jesus isn’t your substitute, you still
occupy a place of a condemned sinner. Jesus Christ accomplished all
of that on the cross, and in doing so, he began to call us
to a life of holiness and righteousness, a changed and different life. There’s a fourth and final design
in our life by the Lord Jesus Christ, the suffering servant. We find it in verse 25. It is
our Lord’s care for our life. Not only his call, not only his
example, not only his aim, but his care. And this is what we
want to finish this morning. Isaiah said it this way. All
of us like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his
own way, but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall
on him. An echo. Of the gospel. Peter says it. This way. For you were continually
straying like sheep. Your life Outside of Christ,
your life before you came to know him was a continual strain.
It was further and further and further away from God, further
away from God’s ways, further away from God’s holiness, further
away from God’s law and God’s standards. But now. What a beautiful word. What hope
is in those words? We use we remember when we used
to stray. We remember that just as Isaiah
says, all of us like sheep have gone astray. We were thoroughgoing
sinners, we know it. But now. But now you have returned
to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. This is where we should have
been all along. But God wooed us to Christ the Savior. God
wooed us back to himself through repentance and faith in Christ. And away from that wayward, purposeless,
dangerous, helpless wandering that so characterized our lives
outside of Christ. As I began to review this passage,
I was struck with a couple of things. There are three words that describe
what I would call the. The primary enduring office of
the New Testament church, you can refer to him as pastor, you
can refer to him as elder, you can refer to him as overseer,
all three terms refer to the same office. You know what’s
fascinating to me? Two of them occur in this verse.
Two of them. Shepherd and guardian. The Jesus
Christ not only sets the pattern for all workers, he sets the
pattern for all who suffer and he sets the pattern for shepherds
and guardians. He is the chief shepherd. He
is the one that sets the standard in this regard. This word shepherding includes
really everything that Christ does for us, the loving care
that we receive from him. The feeding, the nourishment,
if you will, from his word, the instruction and guidance that
we get from him by way of the Holy Spirit. The oversight of
our lives. All of those things are rolled
into what shepherding is. That’s what we are called to
as shepherds. To gather them in, to tend to those, to care
for those that are sick and hurt. That’s what shepherding is. That’s
what Christ does. That image, that illustration
of sheep and shepherd and flock. You know it. It’s throughout
the Scriptures. You know, one of the most pointed
is Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd. That’s
Christ. That’s what we’ve returned to.
The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me
lie down in green pastures. It’s the Lord Jesus Christ that
is caring for you now. That word shepherd was used of
Christ, not only at the outset of his ministry, Matthew chapter
two. You, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least
among the leaders of Judah, for out of you shall come forth a
ruler who will shepherd by people was prophesied of Christ. And
now he comes onto the scene and it’s said of him that he’s going
to be the shepherd. Matthew, chapter six, chapter
nine, Verse 36 records of Christ that he looked over these people.
Seeing the people, he felt compassion for them because they were distressed
and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. No wonder John paints
the picture of Christ in John 10. I am the good shepherd. Jesus words. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his
life for the sheep. This word overseer. That’s what makes the those three
words to describe the New Testament office such a rich description
of what we’re called to do. This word overseer means that
we watch over the lives of the people. When it’s spoken of here
of Christ, he is not only the shepherd, he guides and feeds
and nourishes and cares, but he is the overseer of your soul. He is the protector. It is him
that watches over your salvation. It is him that watches over your
good. It is him that watches over and
cares for your difficulties. If you are distressed, If you
are in the midst of suffering, if you are under the gun, as
it were, if you’re it pales in comparison now to even talk about
earthly bosses, doesn’t it? If we’re in the midst of struggles
and strife and difficulty and heartache and frustration. We can take great hope. Because we can entrust ourselves
to Him, just like Jesus did to His Heavenly Father. We can entrust
ourselves to Him. To the Shepherd and Guardian
of our souls. Let’s rejoice before Him. Our merciful King, we humble
ourselves before You And Lord, in our human design, we never
would have had you go to the cross and suffer such cruel abuse
for us. But having done so, Father, we
desire not only. To enjoy the forgiveness that
Christ secured on the cross by that means, but we also want
to learn every lesson we can. From the example that he laid
before us. Lord God, you have placed a call
in our life. You’ve given us Christ as our
rich example, an example of holiness in suffering unjustly. Grant
us grace, Father, that in the midst of these fiery trials,
we entrust our very souls to our shepherd and our guardian. It’s in Jesus name that we pray.
Amen.