Peter's first epistle spoke a lot about Christians and trials. "Beloved," he wrote in one place, "do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you" (1 Peter 4:12). "Don't be surprised." We, of course, are. Any kind of "fiery trial" surprises us. We shouldn't have trials. We shouldn't have anything unpleasant happen to us at all. So whether we're losing our business because we won't make a wedding cake for a same-sex wedding or someone said something mean to us because we're sincere believers, we will not stand for it.
It's odd, then, that Peter goes on to say, "But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:13). "Wait," we will almost universally respond, "rejoice in fiery trials?" Yes. In fact, Peter gives two reasons. One was "It comes upon you to test you." Trials, according to James, builds perseverance and perseverance, when it is done, completes us (James 1:2-4). (Clearly the two of them were writing from the same playbook.) The other reason we should rejoice is that in it His glory is revealed. And that is nothing but good.
Those are unusual and interesting things. Expect trials. Rejoice. They are for your best interest and God's glory. But Peter says (more than once) another interesting thing about our suffering. He says God wills it (1 Peter 3:17; 4:19). It is God's plan that we should suffer and be blessed (1 Peter 3:14) "so that the tested genuineness of your faith ... may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6-7). So what about you? Will you take trials from the hand of a loving God for your best and His glory? Or will you be angry about it?
1 comment:
I certainly hope I will.
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