1 Peter 4:12-16
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. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
Romans 12:1-5
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Devotion
Now, Peter addresses a difficult issue. He instructs his readers to not be surprised when they experience trials. Instead, they should rejoice if they participate in the sufferings of Christ. This definitely is not what the world teaches us. So, Peter is saying that we should expect trials and suffering if we are going to follow Jesus’ teaching. Not only should we expect them, but we should “rejoice” or be glad when we are experiencing them. This truly is a difficult teaching.
When suffering comes, most of us react as if it were something strange—we feel that nobody else has ever suffered like we have suffered. We all tend to think that our suffering is strange. Jesus told His disciples, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The Apostle Paul also instructs us to “rejoice in your sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.”
We spend a great deal of time and energy trying to avoid suffering. Instead, God wants us to trust Him with our suffering, and know that He is using our suffering to develop our character. We should rejoice in our suffering and trials because we know that God will use them to conform us to the image of His Son. Sometimes our suffering is just the result of living in a fallen world. Sometimes our suffering is the result of sin in our lives. The kind of suffering that Peter is addressing here is the direct result of following Jesus.
In America, we have not experienced much in the way of persecution for our faith. But as our culture embraces the “post-truth” philosophy of life, we can expect persecution of believers to increase significantly. Regardless of the source for our suffering, we must rejoice because we know that God will use it to develop our character for His glory!
Questions to Ponder:
How do you view trials and suffering? Are you able to rejoice in the face of trials and suffering? Are you experiencing any trials right now? If so, how might God be using them to develop your character? Are you surprised that Christians have been persecuted since the time of Christ? How do you see attitudes toward Christianity changing in America over the last 50 years?
Prayer Points
- Worship the Lord as Righteous Father, Glorious God, Yahweh, Eternal God, the One who sticks closer than a brother. He is long suffering.
- Thank the Lord for being a God who rejoices over us. One who sings a song of deliverance over us; who is mighty to save. Confess to Him any grumbling, complaining, or striving regarding trial(s) you or others are in.
- Pray for your heart, the heart of your family, our beloved church family, and all the saints throughout the world. Pray our attitudes and beliefs would not be persuaded or influenced by this world but only by Jesus Christ. Ask the LORD to protect our walk with Him and to help us be in the world but not of it. Pray we will be burning and shining lights for Him and His glory, making Him known even in the trials and difficult days.
Suggested Prayer
Holy God, I praise You that You understand suffering. You are long suffering, and You even tell me it’s a joy to be acquainted with Your suffering. I confess my flesh does not like it. But I know the truth. I know You will bring it all to good, for Your glory and for my good. I praise You, Lord, that You are trustworthy and faithful. You are 100% committed to me, and I bless Your Holy name. Strengthen me with power of Your Holy Spirit to lean into my pain, sorrow, and suffering. Comfort me, Abba. Meet with me. Let me hear Your voice and heart. Speak, Lord, as I trust You. Even my weak “yes” is honored by You. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking me even in the trials. Empower me today to be a trophy of grace and to point others to You as I depend on You and Your ways. Lead me, Abba, I pray. Amen.