1 Peter 4:12-16

1 Peter 4:12-16

Beloved ones, do not be surprised by the burning trial in you all while becoming to you all as an examination – as happening to you all in a surprise.  But rather in so far as you all share with the suffering of Christ in order that also in the revelation of His glory you all should rejoice while being overjoyed.  If you all should be spoken of disparagingly in the name of Christ, then you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you all.  For let none of you all suffer as a murderer or thief or evildoer or as a busybody – but if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed.  Let him glorify God in this name.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Peter talks about the trials that come upon us.  But look at Peter’s perspective very closely.  They are something to be expected.  They are an examination.  They are coming from the world to see what we’re all about.  They are an opportunity for us to see what we are all about, too.  If we truly want to know our character, we need to test it!  You drive out the impurities in metal by putting it under stress.  You separate liquids to determine their true composition by putting them under stress.  You determine the content of gaseous mixtures by putting them under stress.  You can determine our character as well when you put us under stress.

How do you deal with stress?  What are you like under stress and examination?

Second Thought:

We also need to see Peter’s perspective in suffering with Christ.  Christ suffered for His relationship with God and His calling from God.  Why wouldn’t we suffer as well?  If the world hated Christ and persecuted Him, why would they think any different of us when we imitate Christ?  We should expect trial and testing because it is what Christ got from the world.

When do you expect to undergo trial?  How good are you at seeing trial come upon you?  When you are under trial, how much do you look like Christ in how you handle the trial?

Third Thought:

Finally, we have some neat words from Peter.  If a Christian suffers because they are a Christian, we should not let them be ashamed.  It is easy to turn our backs upon those who suffer.  It’s easy to distance ourselves from people who are undergoing a rough time.  But Peter says we should not let them be ashamed.  We need to rally around those who suffer.  We need to rally around those who are persecuted for their faith.  We need to go and pick them up in the midst of their suffering.

Do you avail yourselves to lifting up the persecuted?  When is this easy for you to do?  When is this difficult for you to do?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Peter 4:17-19