1 Peter 4:12-13 "Beloved, do not be surprised at the Fiery Ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory; you may rejoice with exultation"
I was reading the other day about Christian who live in Iraq and how they have suffered at the hands of ISIS. Many who lived in territories where ISIS was had their property taken away, churches were destroyed and people were tortured, raped and murdered. Many believers were struggling after ISIS left to come to terms with this and why God did not protect them from this persecution and in many cases martyrdom. Yet, suffering for the sake of Christ is not new. It is rather the exception that the American churches have enjoyed for the most part freedom from persecution. Persecution has actually been more the rule of thumb for believers than the exception. Jesus said himself in John 15:19-20.
"If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, A slave is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me then they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also."
Throughout the New Testament, Jesus and the disciples warn that we have a choice to make. We must chose who we will love either the world or Jesus. (see 1 John 2:15-17) If it is Jesus, then we will not be loved by the world. It is actually one of the characteristics of the believer that he or she will be persecuted in some ways (see 2 Timothy 3:12). For the believer, this testing or trial is not for the purpose of punishment but for purification.
"And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
Peter says the same thing as what Jesus said in Matthew 5:11 when he said we should consider ourselves blessed when we are persecuted because the prophets were before us. James said this testing or as Peter calls it "fiery ordeal" is in order to produce endurance. (James 1:3) The word "at the fiery ordeal" verse 12 is the word pyrosis which means a burning, a trial to test character. It says even Jesus went through times of suffering (Hebrews 5:8).
"Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you". Matthew 5:11-12, NASV
"Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from the things which He suffered." Hebrews 5:8
I am mindful of the fact that every time I write a blog there are readers from other parts of the world where there is persecution. I see that people have visited from far away places like China where the Christian faith is greatly persecuted. It is one of the great things about blogging like this that I can speak to people who are in places I will never visit in person. Tens of thousands of people all over the world have visited this site over the last few years. Far more people than I would most likely ever speak to face to face.
If I had a word to say to those who are suffering in Iraq or anywhere else around the world where you are being persecuted I would remind you that the believers in the 1st century, the apostles and many other before you have also suffered. It is not a sign that God is somehow not pleased with you. It is not a sign that he has forgotten you. It is not a sign that he is not powerful enough to save you. It is a sign that you are his because he suffered on this earth also. He will reward you for your suffering one day.
Peter calls on those who are suffering in verse 19 to "entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in dong what is right" The word entrusted in the NASV is the same word commit which Jesus used on the cross when he committed himself to the Father when he died. The emphasis is on the words "faithful Creator". We can commit our souls to himself because he is both faithful and our creator.
I was reading the other day about Christian who live in Iraq and how they have suffered at the hands of ISIS. Many who lived in territories where ISIS was had their property taken away, churches were destroyed and people were tortured, raped and murdered. Many believers were struggling after ISIS left to come to terms with this and why God did not protect them from this persecution and in many cases martyrdom. Yet, suffering for the sake of Christ is not new. It is rather the exception that the American churches have enjoyed for the most part freedom from persecution. Persecution has actually been more the rule of thumb for believers than the exception. Jesus said himself in John 15:19-20.
"If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, A slave is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me then they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also."
Throughout the New Testament, Jesus and the disciples warn that we have a choice to make. We must chose who we will love either the world or Jesus. (see 1 John 2:15-17) If it is Jesus, then we will not be loved by the world. It is actually one of the characteristics of the believer that he or she will be persecuted in some ways (see 2 Timothy 3:12). For the believer, this testing or trial is not for the purpose of punishment but for purification.
"And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
Peter says the same thing as what Jesus said in Matthew 5:11 when he said we should consider ourselves blessed when we are persecuted because the prophets were before us. James said this testing or as Peter calls it "fiery ordeal" is in order to produce endurance. (James 1:3) The word "at the fiery ordeal" verse 12 is the word pyrosis which means a burning, a trial to test character. It says even Jesus went through times of suffering (Hebrews 5:8).
"Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you". Matthew 5:11-12, NASV
"Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from the things which He suffered." Hebrews 5:8
I am mindful of the fact that every time I write a blog there are readers from other parts of the world where there is persecution. I see that people have visited from far away places like China where the Christian faith is greatly persecuted. It is one of the great things about blogging like this that I can speak to people who are in places I will never visit in person. Tens of thousands of people all over the world have visited this site over the last few years. Far more people than I would most likely ever speak to face to face.
If I had a word to say to those who are suffering in Iraq or anywhere else around the world where you are being persecuted I would remind you that the believers in the 1st century, the apostles and many other before you have also suffered. It is not a sign that God is somehow not pleased with you. It is not a sign that he has forgotten you. It is not a sign that he is not powerful enough to save you. It is a sign that you are his because he suffered on this earth also. He will reward you for your suffering one day.
Peter calls on those who are suffering in verse 19 to "entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in dong what is right" The word entrusted in the NASV is the same word commit which Jesus used on the cross when he committed himself to the Father when he died. The emphasis is on the words "faithful Creator". We can commit our souls to himself because he is both faithful and our creator.
