Expect Suffering

Expect Sufferings

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)

Peter was no stranger to suffering for the Lord sake. His first epistle, written during a time of bitter persecution of the church, naturally deals with the matter of suffering. While Peter reminds us that Christ suffered for us and that it is a privilege to suffer for Him does not mean that we are to intentionally cause suffering on ourselves. Peter wrote that we are “called” to suffering and should “think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try” us (1^st Peter 4:12). It is a simple fact that we will not escape pain, suffering and trials as we play out the life God invested in us. How we deal with these life’s calamities makes a clear statement of our faith. God will not tempt us in any way to prove our loyalty to Him; he knows already.

Christ’s suffering was foretold (1 Peter 1:11 “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”), as is ours. We see that He had patience, humility, and submission in His sufferings (1 Peter 2:23 “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:”) in order to bear “our sins in his own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). He suffered unjustly, “the just for the unjust” (1Peter 3:18), not only in His spirit, but “Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh” (4:1), being witnessed personally by Peter (1 Peter5:1 “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:”). It is not through Christ’s suffering, or our own, that we obtain salvation to eternal life. But, so that we would never forget His sacrificial/substantial death. It is His resurrection from the dead upon which we must focus. By Grace are we saved through faith. I am not putting away the passion of Jesus’ death. Know it, remember it and plod through it to the empty tomb.

If then we are likewise “called” to suffer, Peter explains that we also will be “suffering wrongfully” (1 Peter2:19) even “when ye do well” (1 Peter 2: 20). We will “suffer for righteousness’ sake” (1 Peter 3:14) and “for well doing” (1 Peter 2:17). To avoid being taken by surprise, we are to prepare ourselves to suffer “in the flesh” (1 Peter 4:1), if need be. We will “be reproached for the name of Christ” (1 Peter 4:14) and should “not be ashamed” if we “suffer as a Christian” (1 Peter 4:16). It is much better to suffer in such a way than to have done something evil to deserve it (1 Peter 2:15).

Suffering while following Christ’s example is “acceptable with God” (1 Peter 2:20), and should make us “happy” (1 Peter 3:14; 4:14). Through it we can “glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter 4:16) because it is “according to the will of God” (1 Peter 4:19). There is even a magnificent reward awaiting the sufferer (1 Peter 5:10 “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”).

In view of all of this, there is little wonder that Peter says, “Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter4:13). We must realize that it is because of sin, pain and suffering will befall humankind. Christians most of all because Satan will fous his efforts to regain them by making them doubt the loving, caring and healing nature of God. Know God, know peace BLL 12-27-2018