Daily Bread 2011 - 1 Peter 4
Suffering for Being a Christian
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
What Does This Mean?
The Christians in Peter’s day were undergoing persecution and Peter writes to encourage them and similar to what James’ says in James 1 he states, “Don’t be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come to test you as something strange is happening to you.” But instead be joyous that you are participating in the sufferings of Christ.
It is one thing to suffer for doing bad things, but quite another to suffer for doing good things in Jesus’ name. Peter makes two precious promises. One is that one day we will be thankful that we were able to persevere through such trials when Jesus returns. Though we don’t always understand why we are going through trials, one day we will understand as their purpose will be revealed. Secondly, as we withstand the storms of life, God is with us in an unusual way.
Just as the Spirit was with Jesus as he underwent suffering, so when we go through trials it is an opportunity to realize that just as Jesus suffered for doing good things, when we suffer God’s Spirit is upon us instilling in us the same attitude of Christ. Note that this suffering is the result of the human sinful condition, as those who oppose Christ are inflicting this suffering on the Church as a result of their rejection of God’s Son.
What Does This Mean For Us?
At face value it means what it says, we shouldn’t be surprised when we face trials and in fact we should expect it. You will hear from time to time people saying if you follow God you will be successful in all you do. Just last night I heard Rae Lewis from the Ravens say that a receiver caught a touchdown pass because he believed God would bless him in that way. That is tricky. In one sense God does want to bless us, but does that mean we will be successful in a worldly sense like scoring game winning touchdowns. I admire Rae Lewis’ boldness to proclaim God in a world that often fails to give God credit for anything, but I wonder about the theology behind his statement.
I guess we have to define what success means and who is defining it. Were the early disciples, most of who were killed for their proclamation of Jesus as Lord, successful. It depends on how you are determining success. In the world’s eyes no, but in God’s eyes they were faithful to the point of be willing to sacrifice everything, including their lives. As you face trials or difficulties in this life, do you automatically assume God has withdrawn His blessing or hand, or do you see it as an invitation to participate in the sufferings of our Lord and Savior? As Paul says in Romans 8, “The sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is in Christ Jesus.”
Jesus, help us to count it all joy when we face various kinds of trials since we know the testing of our faith will cause Your Spirit to rest upon us. Help us to realize that you know what we are going through, and in fact use our trials to refine our faith so we may be mature and complete and lacking in nothing, as we await Your return. Amen.
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
What Does This Mean?
The Christians in Peter’s day were undergoing persecution and Peter writes to encourage them and similar to what James’ says in James 1 he states, “Don’t be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come to test you as something strange is happening to you.” But instead be joyous that you are participating in the sufferings of Christ.
It is one thing to suffer for doing bad things, but quite another to suffer for doing good things in Jesus’ name. Peter makes two precious promises. One is that one day we will be thankful that we were able to persevere through such trials when Jesus returns. Though we don’t always understand why we are going through trials, one day we will understand as their purpose will be revealed. Secondly, as we withstand the storms of life, God is with us in an unusual way.
Just as the Spirit was with Jesus as he underwent suffering, so when we go through trials it is an opportunity to realize that just as Jesus suffered for doing good things, when we suffer God’s Spirit is upon us instilling in us the same attitude of Christ. Note that this suffering is the result of the human sinful condition, as those who oppose Christ are inflicting this suffering on the Church as a result of their rejection of God’s Son.
What Does This Mean For Us?
At face value it means what it says, we shouldn’t be surprised when we face trials and in fact we should expect it. You will hear from time to time people saying if you follow God you will be successful in all you do. Just last night I heard Rae Lewis from the Ravens say that a receiver caught a touchdown pass because he believed God would bless him in that way. That is tricky. In one sense God does want to bless us, but does that mean we will be successful in a worldly sense like scoring game winning touchdowns. I admire Rae Lewis’ boldness to proclaim God in a world that often fails to give God credit for anything, but I wonder about the theology behind his statement.
I guess we have to define what success means and who is defining it. Were the early disciples, most of who were killed for their proclamation of Jesus as Lord, successful. It depends on how you are determining success. In the world’s eyes no, but in God’s eyes they were faithful to the point of be willing to sacrifice everything, including their lives. As you face trials or difficulties in this life, do you automatically assume God has withdrawn His blessing or hand, or do you see it as an invitation to participate in the sufferings of our Lord and Savior? As Paul says in Romans 8, “The sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is in Christ Jesus.”
Jesus, help us to count it all joy when we face various kinds of trials since we know the testing of our faith will cause Your Spirit to rest upon us. Help us to realize that you know what we are going through, and in fact use our trials to refine our faith so we may be mature and complete and lacking in nothing, as we await Your return. Amen.
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