1 Peter 4:12-14
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
God's kingdom seems upside down. We suffer and in our suffering we're told to rejoice with the same measure. I know many on here are suffering with illness and disease and for being a Christian. And it's very painful. And yet you remain faithful to God in your suffering. It shows the power of God at work in the believer when things are at their worst.
In verse 13 we're told that with the degree of our suffering we are to rejoice with that same degree of suffering. It reminds me of the disciples who sang songs while they were in jail. Those who were flogged for their faith rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ.
Paul's multi-faceted suffering through his thorn in the flesh kept him strong. Being weak in the flesh, he became strong in his spirit by God's power. He continued to serve God faithfully as he was beaten, stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked, with an eye disease in Galatia, hungry, thirsty etc for 30 years. The suffering was never ending and yet what an attitude of God's grace he continued in throughout it all.
Are you suffering? Are you remaining faithful and rejoicing to the same degree as you're suffering? I'm having to ask myself that very question.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
God's kingdom seems upside down. We suffer and in our suffering we're told to rejoice with the same measure. I know many on here are suffering with illness and disease and for being a Christian. And it's very painful. And yet you remain faithful to God in your suffering. It shows the power of God at work in the believer when things are at their worst.
In verse 13 we're told that with the degree of our suffering we are to rejoice with that same degree of suffering. It reminds me of the disciples who sang songs while they were in jail. Those who were flogged for their faith rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ.
Paul's multi-faceted suffering through his thorn in the flesh kept him strong. Being weak in the flesh, he became strong in his spirit by God's power. He continued to serve God faithfully as he was beaten, stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked, with an eye disease in Galatia, hungry, thirsty etc for 30 years. The suffering was never ending and yet what an attitude of God's grace he continued in throughout it all.
Are you suffering? Are you remaining faithful and rejoicing to the same degree as you're suffering? I'm having to ask myself that very question.