I Peter 4:12-19 – Suffering Is a Privilege

I Peter 4:12-19 (New Living Translation)

¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. ¹³ Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

¹⁴ So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian,^[a] for then the glorious Spirit of God^[b] rests upon you.^[c] 15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. ¹⁶ But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! ¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? ¹⁸ And also,

“If the righteous are barely saved,
    what will happen to godless sinners?”^[d]

¹⁹ So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

Peter has been trying to encourage the followers of Jesus who were suffering persecution for their beliefs.  In this short passage Peter reminds the followers of Christ that suffering comes before glory.  As Christians we cannot escape suffering, for satan is at spiritual war with us, and will make sure we have plenty of trials.  He wants to discourage us from serving Christ. 

As Christians we do not suffer because we have disobeyed the Lord, but because we identify with Jesus Christ.  When His glory is revealed, we will be glad that we were privileged to suffer for Him.  Jesus tells us in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:11):   “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.

If we were suffering for the sins we were committing, then we would deserve what we are going through.  We are accountable to God for everything we do or don’t do.  There are consequences for sinning.  But if we are suffering because we are claiming the name of Jesus, and living for Him, then we are in for a great blessing ahead.  God sees, and God knows.  He is in the process of making us more and more in the image of Christ, His Son.

Peter is in agreement with another apostle, James, also one of the early church leaders.  James wrote:  Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (James 1:2-4)

We can know this about trials:

·         Trials will happen to all Christians.

·         Trials come in various forms at various times.

·         Trials test our faith.

·         We grow and mature through trials.

We should consider it a joy when trials come our way, because they draw us closer to Christ.  Rather than feeling shame for suffering for Christ, we should feel honored.  As Christians we are privileged to suffer for the King of Kings.  One day we will reign with Him, so what we go through here is only temporary, and He gives us the strength to endure it.

Peter reminds us that suffering is also needed in our lives to keep us pure.  It’s like a spring cleaning in our lives to keep us ready and waiting for His return.  Besides, we will overcome, we will win, and we will be rewarded.  How untrue that is for those who do not obey Christ.  They have a terrible future awaiting them if they do not turn to Christ and forsake their sins.  Christians, on the other hand, can count it all joy to suffer for Jesus, because we will one day revel in His Glory!!  We will be sharing eternity with Jesus Christ, Creator of all, and King over all.  Praise His name!!