Today I was reading the book of 1st Peter in the Bible and came across chapter 4. That chapter talks about the sufferings that Christ went through for us and how we are going to have to suffer also to reign with him. The first verse caught my attention: “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourself likewise with the same mind: for that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1-2, KJV)” We are going to suffer in the flesh but the good news is that it won’t be forever, there is coming a day when all of our sufferings will be over and we will reign with Christ forever. Therefore, we should not be too focused on the sufferings we have to endure down here but we should be focus more on accomplishing the will of God. If we learn to take our mind off the pain it sometimes doesn’t hurt that much. The more we focus on the pain, the more pain we tend to feel.
There are many Christians going through a lot of sufferings but remember what the Bibles says: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; But rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceedingly joy. (1Peter 4:12- 13)” Many people might say it is hard to be happy when we are going through our trials and tribulations. Yes, the pain may hurt but the thing that brings joy to the heart is knowing that it is all in the hands of the Lord, He is allowing us to go through those trials to shape us into the person He desires us to be, and that it will be over in due season. When one thinks on those things it gives them hope and brings joy to their soul. It is sort of looking at the whole picture and not just a spot.
There are times when we cause our own selves to go through things we didn’t really have to endure if we were following the will of the Lord. If we repent the Lord will help us go through it but we sometimes have to endure the consequences of our actions. The Bible states, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as a evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. (1 Peter 4:15)” The Lord doesn’t want us to suffer for the things of the world because those things don’t glorify God. Most of those things bring reproach on the person. The Lord doesn’t want us to endure unnecessary pain. We already have enough spiritual battles to fight, why bring more problems in your life.
Then 1 Peter 4: 19 states, “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the unglodly and the sinner appear?” That really caught my attention because if the righteous who go out of their way to do the will of the Lord barely makes it into Heaven, how about the sinners? That means if you are not living a life that follows the will of the Lord and repent daily of your sins ---- your soul might be lost. This is very serious because many people think getting into heaven is easy and they don’t have to do much at all to make it in. But it is not so. We have to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.
In 1 Peter 5: 8 the Bible reminds us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” So that one moment you step out of the will of the Lord you might get devoured by the enemy. Stay in the will of the Lord and stay focus on the things pertaining to God.
There are many Christians going through a lot of sufferings but remember what the Bibles says: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; But rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceedingly joy. (1Peter 4:12- 13)” Many people might say it is hard to be happy when we are going through our trials and tribulations. Yes, the pain may hurt but the thing that brings joy to the heart is knowing that it is all in the hands of the Lord, He is allowing us to go through those trials to shape us into the person He desires us to be, and that it will be over in due season. When one thinks on those things it gives them hope and brings joy to their soul. It is sort of looking at the whole picture and not just a spot.
There are times when we cause our own selves to go through things we didn’t really have to endure if we were following the will of the Lord. If we repent the Lord will help us go through it but we sometimes have to endure the consequences of our actions. The Bible states, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as a evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. (1 Peter 4:15)” The Lord doesn’t want us to suffer for the things of the world because those things don’t glorify God. Most of those things bring reproach on the person. The Lord doesn’t want us to endure unnecessary pain. We already have enough spiritual battles to fight, why bring more problems in your life.
Then 1 Peter 4: 19 states, “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the unglodly and the sinner appear?” That really caught my attention because if the righteous who go out of their way to do the will of the Lord barely makes it into Heaven, how about the sinners? That means if you are not living a life that follows the will of the Lord and repent daily of your sins ---- your soul might be lost. This is very serious because many people think getting into heaven is easy and they don’t have to do much at all to make it in. But it is not so. We have to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.
In 1 Peter 5: 8 the Bible reminds us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” So that one moment you step out of the will of the Lord you might get devoured by the enemy. Stay in the will of the Lord and stay focus on the things pertaining to God.
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