Encouragement in the Midst of Suffering (2)
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to bring the whole world – 1 Peter 1:6-7.
Introduction: We bring to you the concluding part of last week's article. Enjoy! It is easy to get discouraged, especially when things are not going our way. When we don't have enough money to pay the bills, when our children do not seem to be turning out the way we expected, when careers are headed down instead of up, how can we help than to be discouraged? Disintegrating relationships are even more discouraging – family, friends, church family, neighbors, business associates. We want the bonds that hold us together to keep holding. When they don't, discouragement moves in.
Peter, the encourager, reminds Christians that even persecution need not be feared if we know Jesus Christ. This letter is a manual on how a Christian should live in the face of persecution, disintegrating relationships, discouragement, and suffering. It is a note of encouragement.
Peter wrote this letter just before the cruel emperor Nero began his intense persecution of Christians in Rome and throughout the empire. Peter knew what it was like to be afraid of his life, for as a disciple of Jesus, he had denied knowing Jesus three times – John 18:15-17. Now, having learned how to stand firm in an evil world, he could encourage other Christians who were facing persecution for their faith.
It is helpful to remember that Christ Himself was persecuted, wounded, and even crucified. No one wants to be hurt, but when we are , it is encouraging to remember the wounded Jesus and the comfort and security He offers us in the midst of our difficulties.
As Christians, even hurting Christians, we must strive for holiness, abandoning ugly sins that choke our spiritual lives. Even in tough times, Christians should live Christlike lives, imitating Christ in our relationships – husbands, wives, employers, fellow Christians, neighbors
You will find notes of encouragement in the 1st Letter of Peter. It will not remove the source of your discouragement any more than it did for those to whom Peter wrote, but it helps us understand a little better why we suffer, helps us see that suffering for Christ is a privilege, tells us how suffering refines our faith, and shows us the hope all believers have – our suffering will one day end, when we are ushered into God's heavenly Kingdom. Introduction to the 1st Peter – Touch Point Bible.
A Call to Holy Living
So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of Him during your time as “foreigners in the land.” For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose Him as your ransom long before the world began, but He has now revealed Him to you in these last days.
Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because He raised Christ from the dead and gave Him great glory. You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say,
“People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.
So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.
Living Stones for God's House
Living Stones for God's House, You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people, but He was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple. What's more, you are His holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say,
“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.” Yes, you who trust Him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they do not obey God's word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God's mercy.”
Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when He judge the world.
This article is from 1st Peter 1:13-25 and 2:1-12 (New Living Translation).
Stay Blessed Please do keep Saturday, 28th November free for a prayer rally at the premises of Salt and Light Ministries. Remember to join us on Sunny – Tuesdays 5:30am; Asempa – Sundays 5:30am & Unique – Saturdays 7:30pm for our radio Bible study.