The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are harsh. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person endures grief 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.”

—1 Peter 2:18–20

This attitude isn’t admired in our culture. We glorify defending ourselves at all costs and revel in stories about corrupt bosses or unfair teachers getting payback. It feels like justice.

But God is the greatest proponent of justice, and he says he will bring it in his own time (Romans 12:17–21).

The Bible advises calm respect and diligent work even toward those who don’t deserve it.

We take our example from Joseph in slavery, being so faithful that he ended up managing his master’s entire house, and from Daniel, a captive forced to serve an evil government in a foreign land and who became a witness to everyone around him.

We find favor with the Lord when we endure injustice with integrity and trust his sovereign plan. When we’ve been served injustice, it feels like we have a right to slack off or be deceitful, but God says no.

It’s always our duty to work diligently and respectfully. And even if obedience to God requires disobeying those unjust leaders as Daniel’s daily prayers did, we do so gently, not for the purpose of rebellion, but because our loyalty must be to God first.

We’re called to maintain gentle respect and integrity in humility even when faced with harsh injustice.

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