Suffer Well (1 Peter 4:12-19)
1 Peter 4:12-19
Do you like “fill in the __________ ” questions? I sure ____ .
Okay, enough silliness, here’s a real fill in the blank for you.
When you come to Jesus you can be sure that you will ______________________
What comes to mind?
Give it a go and fill in the 3 below.
When you come to Jesus you can be sure that you will ______________________
When you come to Jesus you can be sure that you will ______________________
When you come to Jesus you can be sure that you will ______________________
If you’re like me, you probably went pretty quickly to the benefits and blessings of salvation.
When you come to Jesus you can be sure that you will have your sins forgiven.
When you come to Jesus you can be sure that you will become part of God’s family.
When you come to Jesus you can be sure that you will experience a lot of joy.
Yes, Yes, and Yes. All are true. But wait, there’s more!
When you come to Jesus you can be sure that you will suffer.
Did that make your list? As you can see above, it didn’t make mine.
It’s a sobering thought, but if Peter were participating in this exercise after writing 1 Peter 4:12-19, his mind would have gone to ‘suffering’ pretty quickly.
Why do we suffer? What’s it for? How does God use suffering to do good?
Join us Sunday as we spend more time on this difficult and important theme.
Many blessings,
Pastor Tim
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And
“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
-1 Peter 4:12-19