What is the Christian worldview on suffering? Part 2 (1 Peter 4:13)

In my last devotion I said, DO NOT BE SHOCKED WHEN YOU SUFFER AS A CHRISTIAN! Why? Here are two reasons.

1) You bear the name of Christ. 

Jesus said in John 15: 18 onwards, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.” Matthew 24: 9, “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me”.

You will suffer at the hands of people because you bear the name of Jesus - CHRISTIAN.

2) God tests your faith in order to see if it is genuine or not.

1 Peter 3: 17, “It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good.”; 1 Peter 4: 19, “So then, those who suffer according to God's will.” You see, it is God's will that you should suffer. Why? To what end? For what reason? 1 Peter 4: 12 says, “to test you.” Test you for what? 

Peter says in 1 Peter 1: 7, “These have come (these fiery and various trials) so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

So, it is God’s will that you should suffer so that genuine faith will be revealed. So do not be surprised when you suffer as a Christian. 

This is the first truth regarding a Christians worldview on suffering. In today's devotion, I would like to focus on the second :

Rejoice when you suffer as a Christian.

1 Peter 4: 13, "But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." 

This is something that does not sound right. Rejoice in suffering! It is like oil and water, it does not go together. 

I bet if you said this to a non-Christian, a friend or family member, they would say, you are crazy. Out of your mind. This is something opposite to how we should react in suffering. It is an oxymoron.

But Peter commands us to do this. The question is why? How can you rejoice in suffering?

The reason is found in v13. Have a look at it: “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

So we rejoice in suffering because one day we will see Jesus in all his glory. This is significant. Because when you (genuine Christian) see Jesus in all his glory, that is the day when you will receive glory.

We know this because of what Peter says in chapter 1: 7, “these have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

You see, dear friends, Peter looks beyond our current circumstances to our future glory. He looks beyond your health issues and Covid-19 to your glory. He looks beyond your lack of income and poverty to your glory. He looks beyond suffering as a Christian, beyond being mocked and ridiculed to your glory.

Therefore, he says REJOICE in SUFFERING! Because GLORY IS COMING!

Friends, when other Christians are suffering, whatever it may be. Please give them this advice. Please encourage them with these words. I say this, because I have heard Christians say to other Christians, that your suffering is less or tame or not as bad than others. Therefore, be happy and glad. 

Rejoice, because you are not starving like other people in Africa. 

Rejoice, because your illness is not as bad or life threatening as those who are in ICU. 

Rejoice because your suffering is light in comparison to others.

This is bad advice. Unhelpful comfort. In fact let me be frank, this is unbiblical, therefore neither encouraging nor edifying. Do not encourage other Christians by comparing their suffering with others. Instead, say to them. REJOICE FOR GLORY IS COMING!

This should be the Christians worldview in the midst of suffering.

May this truth warm your heart.

God Bless, Steven.

1 Peter 4: 13