stead-ly entrusted

And when they hurled their insults at him, he

did not retaliate; and when he bled

and suffered, he made no threats, 'n-stead-ly

entrusted himself to the One who’d fed

and cared for him thus far, and who could judge

the whole world justly, ’coz he knows each one.

In this he taught us firmly not to budge,

to not repay insults and evil done

by evil men as though they were it’s  source,

but recognize that they've become a slave,

and still do blessing (make that your recourse),

for to this you were called; like Christ, behave.

His blessings then, your load will enlighten.

You're spesh’ly blessed if you suffer for good.

So, ‘Do not fear their threats, nor be  frightened.’

But in your hearts revere Christ as your Lord.

And always be prepared to give response -

an answer, to each questioner who asks

your basis for the hope they see - who longs

(respectfully & gently do this task)!

And, keep a cle-ar conscience - as you're blamed.

They speak maliciously against your good

behaviour in Christ Jesus. Be they  shamed

of all their slander, for you’ll both have stood

one day, will stand before Creator God

who’ll judge if we are worth growing more as

his children, and it must seem rather odd

to have to say “This embryo, this mass..

of cells has not worked out, it will not be

conformed to greater purposes and plans,

so maybe it can compost an old tree

and see if good might come that way. Humans

aren’t really finished products here on Earth

as we know it, this is a kind of womb,

and we are baby embryos pre-birth,

untill we enter Life more, at a tomb.

For following this Jesus is “through death”,

and suff-er-ing seems “par for course”, not “curse”..

So if it is God’s will, to suffer yet,

may it be ‘coz you're doing good, not worse …

And Christ showed us that suff’ring ain't all bad:

it wasn't coz he’d earned it (but we had),

his aim was to bring us back to our Dad,

and made alive with God’s life’s really “mad”!

So since Christ suffered bodily, alert

yourselves as well with this same attitude:

so kinds of love that “love” - to their own hurt

(that’s of these bodies), sin can't touch such dudes.

As a result, you will not live the rest

of earthly lives for your own (weak) desires,

but rather for the will of God (strong, best);

enough is wasted on self-centred liars.

To those who suffer ‘ccording to God’s will:

commit yourselves to their  Creator’s faith-

ful ways and to himself, and let him fill

you with his love-life, keep on, a “good wraithe”.

---

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.
1 Peter 2:23 NIVUK

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

…

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats ; do not be frightened.’  But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits – to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water (that destroyed the world, in Noah's day, but held up Noah's Ark - above all the flood, and saved their lives) symbolises baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience towards God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,. 1 Peter 3:9‭, ‬14‭-‬16‭, ‬21 NIVUK

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body has finished with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do – living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. …. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. … So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.  1 Peter 4:1‭-‬3‭, ‬5‭, ‬19 NIVUK