I Peter 4:12-19
Although Peter has been talking about suffering all along in this epistle, today’s reading is his strongest message on suffering. He says it all: He ties our sufferings to Jesus’ sufferings (v. 13); he expects that we will be reviled for the sake of the name of Jesus (v. 14); and he acknowledges that God allows or even encourages our suffering (vv. 17, 19; see below). Listen to Peter – November 1, pray for the persecuted church!
But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. (v. 15) The NKJV translation had “busybody” instead of “meddler”. That’s what caught my eye in reading today. I even read this verse out loud to Carol and mentioned these four (murderer, thief, evildoer, busybody) as appearing in descending order. She commented that busybodies can be terribly hurtful also – no doubt, I imagine, they can even led to murder!!
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God… (v. 17) and Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (v. 19) As noted above, God clearly allows our suffering. My Study Bible even suggested that “The persecutions that believers were undergoing were divinely sent judgments intended to purify God’s people.” I think “divinely sent” is a bit strong, although God did send enemy forces to bring judgment upon Israel in the Old Testament. But I do believe that God allows our suffering as a means for our purification. But I think the greater meaning for Christian persecution is as an evangelistic witness to the persecutors or the bystanders. I can imagine the lifelong regret that Paul felt when he remembered himself standing by the leaders’ robes as Stephen was being stoned (Acts 7:58).
Slava Bohu!
We get the message of persecution in so many Pauline letters too, it should make us wonder if we are NOT being persecuted—what are we doing wrong?!?!?
Meanwhile, we should probably be praying more fervently for the Christians in other lands than we are, no matter how much we already are…
I just finished reading the autobiography of Sabina Wurmbrand, wife of the man who started Voice of the Martyrs (himself imprisoned and tortured for over a decade). I was awed and humbled by what they went through, and America just looked on oblivious as the communists systematically tried to exterminate the church. Our friends in Slovakia and Czech Republic told of persecutions too. It is everywhere!
I agree. There are so many more places today around the world where a government or cultural community pressure is trying to stamp out the church. We need to pray for the persecuted church – come to November 1 First Sunday Praise and Prayer! As Kerry announced yesterday, it will be the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church and the focus that night.
I was struck by v. 19: when suffering (God’s discipline, persecution, etc.), trust God and continue to do good.
Why do we find it so hard to think that suffering might be “divinely sent”? Why do we always try to make excuses for God, insisting that He simply “allows” suffering, but practically never actually wills it? Let’s just ask this one question: Was the Cross of Christ God’s will, or did He simply “allow” it?