1 Peter 4:1 “Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin.”
Have you ever known someone who admitted that they enjoyed suffering? To experience mental or physical pain and distress is not a condition that most people want to endure. Don’t get me wrong, for those dear people who have suffered for their faith in prisons, work camps, or in societies that hate them, the suffering can be a badge of honor. Knowing that suffering is a result of taking a stand for faith is worthy of applause in the Kingdom of God.
To endure suffering with joy, in peace, knowing that the Savior is honored is not for the faint of heart. Great in God’s kingdom are those who endure until the end, knowing the reward of faithfulness carries with it eternal joy.
The apostle Peter was mindful of the trials that his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ endured. His encouragement was meant to strengthen and supply believers when the journey is difficult.
What is it that drives a person to endure suffering for their faith?
1 Peter 4:2 “Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God”
The desire to please God triumphs over the desire to please oneself.
For one, the knowledge of sin and all the consequences that come with it is a great motivating factor.
James 1:14-15 “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
Sin brings suffering, but not the same kind of suffering that comes with walking in righteousness. Sin ultimately leads to a spiritual death, a death that leads to eternal torment, anguish, and regret. For those who are still alive, sin also causes despair and leads to all forms of trouble.
The Shame of Sin
For those who still have a conscience, the consequences of sin leave marks of regret. Past indulgences that leave relationships broken, feelings hurt, or even lives lost can be hard to repair. Some people suffer bodily pain from drunken binges, lost jobs, loss of freedom, or loss of marriages from walking in sin. Financial ruin accompanies sin, and for the drunk who spends more time in the bar than with their responsibilities, the life they want only slips away. Families are torn apart by sin, children are left with wounds they carry into adulthood, and then fools wonder why life is so difficult.
Galatians 5:19-21 “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
For those who have grown wise, the knowledge of sin and the consequences that accompany such actions lead to a change in lifestyles.
The Healing of the Righteous
When a sinner responds to God’s call, they are choosing to die to themselves now, rather than dying later for all eternity. The guilty are called by the Father to know the grace of God in Jesus Christ. The Redeemer lived, died, and rose again to new life, that He might redeem a people for Himself. Those people are saved from the eternal death they were about to endure.
John 1:12-13 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
God’s call goes out to everyone.
For those who receive the call, they are given the right to be counted as God’s children. Not everyone receives it. Many choose to go their own way and hold onto the self-righteous views of themselves or can’t give up what they feel is the life they have earned. The consequences of sin become an expectation in life and many would rather flock to others who live in sin as a support, than find the freedom that comes by way of the Cross.
Luke 14:27 “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
The cross represents death. The righteous know that this world brings nothing of value, and so they choose to die now, that they might live to Christ. The righteous don’t just live for a life to come, they find that true life begins now.
When the eternal God enters into the lives of the repentant, they experience eternity in their hearts. New life brings joy, hope, and peace that sin could never uncover. The world continues in its misery and is even repulsed that people would reject its mantra of death. Because Christ now dwells in the hearts of believers, the world stands as an enemy to the redeemed.
The Joy of those who Suffer
There should be an expectation for suffering among the redeemed.
1 Peter 4:12-13 “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”
Christ suffered on behalf of His people that they might know Him. The people of God in turn suffer for Christ, that they might know the fellowship of walking with Him.
The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, now dwells within His people.
1 Peter 4:14-16 “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”
There is blessings that come with suffering in God’s Kingdom. There is great honor among the redeemed because God is glorified in their faithfulness.
It’s not easy trying to convince someone who walks in darkness that there is new life in suffering for Christ. The lost are content with their misery, and even resolved that life can’t get any better than what they know. But there is a life that far exceeds anything this world can give.
1 Peter 4:19 “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”
What may be shocker to some is that it is God’s will for His people to suffer. It is only for a moment and yet the divine purpose of God leading His people into suffering carries an eternal weight of glory. With the suffering comes strength, resolve, and ultimately knowledge of God.
If you suffer for your faith, count yourself blessed…you have learned true obedience. There is a great crown of righteousness awaiting those who endure to the end.
Until then, be strong and courageous…the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
U.T. 