Peter as Pastor - Suffering - 1 Peter 4: 12 - 19 (P 27)

Immediately after Peter described what it means to live well as a believer, he began to write about suffering - suffering because of identification with Jesus.

Read 1 Peter 4: 12 - 19

Notice, as we begin, the distinction Peter makes between suffering because of Christ and suffering that may come because of criminal or bad behaviors. If you steal or murder or engage in criminal activity ... even if you just meddle in other people's business ... and suffer ...then so be it - it's called consequences.  Instead, Peter wrote about suffering because of your faith.

William Barclay wrote:  

It is never easy to be a Christian.  The Christian life brings its own loneliness, its own unpopularity, its own problems, its own sacrifices and its own persecutions.

Is that your experience?  Would you agree with Barclay?  If so ... it is important to make note of the principles surrounding this kind of suffering as cataloged by Peter.  

First, Peter expected suffering.  To him, it was an inevitable outflow of walking with Christ.  Why? Most likely because human nature abhors anything different.  Human nature wants everyone to be exactly like "me".  Human nature tends to hold anyone different as "suspicious".  And the Christian is to live a life that differs from the world's standards and norms. Also, when we live out the model set by Jesus, we become something of a conscience to the society in which we live and function.  Consciences can be troublesome.  And many want to silence a troublesome conscience!  So Peter said, "Expect it.  Don't be surprised."

The second principle Peter established is that suffering is a test.  Will you persevere?  Will you be faithful?  Are you truly devoted to the Lord even when the going gets rough?  

Third, suffering puts us in company with Christ Himself.  And that is the best company possible!  Let me remind you of some things Paul said along these lines as well:

Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:17)

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.  (Philippians 3:10)

Peter's fourth principle was that suffering is the way to glory.  Jesus Himself bore the cross before He wore the crown.  It is yet another way we walk in His steps.  

Do you ever wonder what this "glory" means?  What does it look like?  In the Old Testament, there was this idea of luminosity that occurred around the presence of God.  The Hebrews called it "shekinah".  We know that the glory of the Lord enveloped Mt. Sinai - and it was a luminosity, a light.  Moses wore it on his own face when he had been with God.  It was this luminous cloud that led the children of Israel in the wilderness - the presence of God.  It settled on and in the Tabernacle ... then the Temple.  One of the saddest phrases in scripture is when we are told that the "glory" (the luminosity, the light, the glow) of God left the Temple.  Then it was just a building.  

We read of Stephen's martyrdom in Acts 6 - 7.  As he was condemned to a death sentence, scripture tells us in Acts 6:15 "All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel."  Luminosity - glory.

Barclay writes:  "It is Peter's conviction that something of that glow of glory rests on those who suffer for Christ."

So what do you do when the suffering comes?  Peter does not leave us hanging.  He tells us what to do.  He states it succinctly and clearly.  "Entrust yourself to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good." (4:19)   NIV translates it as "commit yourselves".  The Greek word used for "entrust" is the word "paratithesthai".  It is a technical term for depositing money with a trusted friend - a custom used before banks were available.  It means this is a safe place.  It means you will not lose yourself.  It is the exact word that our Lord used when He said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."

This Pastor's advice is solid ... it was wisdom for those first century believers ... and it is still wisdom for us today.  

Trust yourself to God ... and continue to do good. 

 Enough said.