1 Peter 4 - Don't Be Surprised!

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Living for God

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 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. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

Peter makes the connection between suffering for Christ and dying to the sins of the flesh. As we suffer in our own lives it gives us just a taste of what Jesus went through on the cross. When we connect this with what he has done for us it can have a profound effect on us.  

When a person suffers physical persecution for the sake of Jesus, it almost always profoundly changes their outlook regarding sin and the pursuit of the lusts of the flesh.

Most of these 1st century Christians had led lives before they had come to Christ of willfully submitting to lust, sexual immorality, and self indulgence of all kinds. There was no limit to whatever vices one felt like pursuing and no desire for any self control. But when our lives are changed by the love of Christ and we leave or life of sin, we might not be met with much applause from the world.  

When we don’t participate in the sin around us, we convict those who practice their sin, and they don’t like that – so they speak evil of us.

I had a friendship that I lost when I became a Christian. It was sad because we were longtime friends and so were our families, but I guess our relationship was very shallow. When we come to Christ we find our friendships take on a deeper level of intimacy based on the fellowship we have through the Holy Spirit.  

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Because of the state of the world around them, Peter and others thought the end was near. Today many say the end is near, as we look at our world. The bottom line is we don't know when Jesus is going to return, so we should always be alert and sober minded. 

Note Peter doesn't tell them to hide under a rock because the end was near, but to love one another and show hospitality to each other. When Jesus returns, if we are focused on the things he has commanded to do, we can be confident any day of the week. 

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. 

Once again Peter returns to the theme of suffering. Obviously there was heavy persecution going on in the church. Peter tells them they should not be surprised by it. Jesus had warned his disciples that they would face trouble in this world as a result of their association with him. We should not be surprised today if we receive similar treatment. We live in a world of tolerance for almost everything but a Christian worldview. 

Instead Peter tells them to "rejoice". To "rejoice" means to "choose joy". We can only choose joy when we are suffering if we take a long view. We can only "count it as all joy", as James says in chapter 1 of his epistle, if we know that what we are suffering will achieve for us an eternal glory that will far outweigh it all. (See also Romans 8:18).

When we are suffering for Christ, Peter tells us his glory rests on us. We might not see it in the natural world, but it is visible in the supernatural world. If we could see all the angels standing by our side in a time of suffering for Christ, it would blow us away! 

The next time you are suffering for Christ realize both what awaits you on the other side in heaven, and also how the glory of God is resting on you right now!