1 Peter 2:19-25 (New Living Translation)
19 For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps 22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God,who always judges fairly 24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.
We avoid pain. We don't want to suffer. We want life to be fair. When someone accuses us falsely or criticizes us unjustly we want to retaliate. After all, they are wrong and we are right so why shouldn't we justify ourselves? Ah, there is the key. We want to justify ourselves. What we are to do is to accept the justification Jesus gave us and take on His nature. His nature is to accept unjust treatment and keep silent. He leaves the retaliation up to God. Becoming more like Jesus is not for wimps. It requires living life opposite from they way our human nature wants us to live. Are you courageous enough to be a follower of Jesus Christ?