1 Peter - Following Jesus Sample

There will always be days when being a Christian seems very hard. Peter wants his friends to respond in the right way on those days.

• What reaction must these Christians avoid at such times (v. 12)?

If you are a believer in Jesus, you should expect flack. Peter has made this clear before and he does not minimise how hard this suffering will be. He calls it a ‘fiery ordeal’. We will feel pain. But we should not feel surprise.

There may be a temptation to feel surprise though. Peter has just been extolling God’s eternal power and glory (4:11). Why doesn’t God use his great power to protect his children from ordeals, particularly fiery ones? That might seem both strange and surprising.

Peter wants his friends to understand why God lets his people go through the mill. These sufferings are not purposeless. One purpose is that they act as tests (v. 12). As we persevere, these trials show that our faith is real, and they make our faith stronger. God is at work for our good, even in the toughest of times.

• If we are not to be surprised by suffering, how are we to respond to it and why (v. 13)?

Can Peter be serious? A ‘fiery ordeal’ sounds far from enjoyable. We need to read on. These believers are to rejoice because of what their suffering means. Peter tells us to rejoice ‘as you participate in the sufferings of Christ’.

Peter does not mean that Jesus’ death to save us was inadequate. Christ’s perfect sacrifice for sin does not need to be topped up by our sufferings. But when Christians suffer for following Christ, they are walking the path Jesus walked. In that sense, suffering can be strangely reassuring. It can assure us that we genuinely belong to Christ. We really are walking in his footsteps.

All suffering is painful at the time. But ‘inasmuch’ as it shows we belong to Christ, we can count it as a joy. Suffering led to glory for Christ. It will lead there for Christ’s followers too.

One day Christ’s glory will be revealed. It will be clear for all to see. On that day, faithful followers of Christ will ‘be overjoyed’. On that glorious day, our suffering will be over and our joy will be overwhelming.

Pray 

Pray that you would see your sufferings as ‘participating in the sufferings of Christ’ and would rejoice in this reassuring truth.