"Glorious Suffering" December 11 Readings: 1 Peter 4:12-5:14

Today's Reading - 1 Peter 4:12-5:14 

Background

Peter continues his exhortation to the scattered believers to endure and even prosper spiritually in spite of their suffering.

Devotional - Glorious Suffering 

Peter wrote to people who knew what it was to suffer for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I feel like I'm suffering when someone talks bad about me. I live in a nice house, drive a nice truck, but living so far from some of my grandkids - that seems like real suffering to me! But these people had suffered. Real suffering. Harsh. Pain. Even, at times, death.  And Peter desired to encourage and strengthen them.

In 1 Peter 5:10, he said,

Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little.

This is similar to what Paul said when he described his sufferings in 2 Corinthians 4 as "light and momentary." In Romans 8 he said they were not worth comparing to the glory that would be revealed in us. There is a root principle these biblical authors were trying to get through to us here - two of them in fact.

First, we are comforted knowing that whatever suffering we endure in the name of Christ is, as Paul said, "light and momentary" and that compared to the glory we will experience in eternity, it is nothing. That is not to diminish our sufferings, but to magnify the glories of heaven. That is how great it will be in glory - even the worst of our sufferings will seem insignificant in the presence of Christ. It will be worth it all.

But we do not have to wait for glory to be comforted. Jesus Christ will restore, establish, strengthen and support us day by day as well. As we struggle through this world we have the promise of the constant presence of Christ in all that we do. Jesus is more than a ticket to heaven, he is our daily hope and sustainer. When times are hard, he will be there to carry you, to pick you up and to strengthen you for the work he has set before you.

No matter what comes in this life, I have unspeakable glory awaiting, and unlimited sustenance and grace for my life every day.

Father, thank you for your Son who not only secured my future but sustains my presence. 

Think and Pray

Thank God today that not only was your future guaranteed in Christ, but your present is empowered in him, in spite of what this world or the enemy can do to you.