12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! 17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? 18 And also,
“If the righteous are barely saved,
what will happen to godless sinners?”
19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.
Tori's Comments:
Again, he focuses on suffering and trials. It's interesting he calls us not only to persevere, but to do so with joy. Which just happens to be exactly what we naturally don't want to do.
But we have great reason to be joyful! Because who is completely in control of our situation? God, who created us, and will never fail us.
Terrie's Comments:
Throughout this letter to Peter, Paul has been emphasizing that we must be willing to follow Christ whatever the cost. We are to respond to our persecutors the way Jesus did on the day he was brought to trial and crucified. Suffering because we deserve it is not suffering for the cause of Christ. If we suffer because we are living the way God wants us to then we are suffering in a way that pleases God. God promises not to fail us if we follow him. He is trustworthy :-)
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
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