Did anyone ever tell you that once you became a Christian, once you gave your heart and life to the Lord Jesus, everything would be just rosy? That your life would be smooth sailing from then on? You might have been told that only those in sin or unbelievers suffer difficulties, but not the godly. That teaching, which is one of several that the “health-wealth” preachers espouse, is false. True, godly Christians from the time of the Apostles to today have often suffered, and gone through all kinds of difficult trials. In our Scripture for today, the Apostle Peter reminds us that trials and suffering are going to come, and Christians, including godly believers who are living for the Lord, are not immune to them.
The epistle of I Peter was written to believers who were going through persecution from both the unsaved Jewish people and from pagans. Some of them had been driven out of their homes by unbelieving family members. Many had lost their jobs and incomes for their faith. They had been dragged into court and had judgments given against them because they were Christians. These people Peter was writing to were surprised and discouraged because of this. Perhaps someone had told them that by becoming a Christian, all their problems would disappear. Peter told them that this was not a true or accurate teaching. He told them that the trials they were going through were not to be considered unusual or odd (vs. 12).
Our trials are not unique. Many others have experienced the same thing. As we read through the Bible, we see how many went through all sorts of trials, such as Joseph, Jeremiah, Stephen, and Paul. From the days of the early church, through the centuries following, and on to today, Christians have suffered all types of adversities and persecutions. When we are persecuted for our faith, we are partners in the same suffering that Jesus endured (vs. 13). When a believer suffers, God’s presence especially rests with him, and God will bless them with strength and endurance (vs. 14).
Peter warns us that we need to be careful that we are not suffering because of some wrongdoing that we have done (s. 15). This was God’s instruction back then, and is the same today. If we do something wrong at work, such as helping ourselves to company funds or merchandise, get caught and then fired, we can’t say that we were being persecuted for our faith. If we cause a fight in the neighborhood, and the police fine us or put us in jail overnight, we can’t say that they did that because we were a Christian.
However, if we are persecuted because we spread the message of Jesus, and take a stand for His Word, Peter says we are blessed, and should not be ashamed (vs 14, 16). Jesus spoke of just such persecution for our faith, calling those who endure such as blessed (Matthew 5:11-12). Whenever we suffer because of our faith and loyalty to Jesus, He will be with us all the way. When Peter and John were persecuted for preaching the Gospel, they rejoiced because they knew God approved of their work (Acts 5:40-42). Insults and rejection because of Jesus means there is evidence of Christ in our lives.
God also has a purpose in the trials of our life. He can use trials to cleanse and purify us. Adversity will often drive us closer to God. We begin to focus on Him, and see things from His perspective. God also uses trials to test our faith, endurance, and devotion to Him. Hardship and tribulation in our life will also show us God’s power to sustain us through them.
Peter continues by telling us that God’s judgment on mankind begins with believers in order to purify the Church (vs. 17). If God will judge His own, how much more will He judge the unsaved? One is only saved by trusting in Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross. If that sacrifice is rejected and spurned, where does that leave these people? There is no other hope for them (vs. 18).
In looking back over this Scripture passage, we see that there are four attitudes that we should have in order to be triumphant during persecution. We need to expect that such persecution will happen to believers (vs. 12). Next, we should rejoice in God while enduring it (vs. 13-14). Then we should evaluate the cause of it, making sure that it is not caused by any wrongdoing of ours (vs. 15-18). And then finally we need to entrust what we are going through to God (vs. 19).
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