1 Peter 4:12-16 English Standard Version

Suffering as a Christian

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

We search the world for those who are in pain and are suffering. There is no lack of it. The gospel is an offer of escape from one life to gain a better life. We hi-lite the healing, comfort, mercy and grace and avoid mentioning pain and suffering. They already know about that.

Those in pain are reluctant to swap one kind of pain for another, especially one that is unknown.

The one connection we have with the lost is our own pain and suffering. We are relatable only to the extent that our suffering is the same as theirs. Gaining access to their pain is a matter of trust. Gaining the trust of strangers is extremely difficult. A measure of discomfort is to be expected. 

Listen again to Peter’s words, “as though something strange were happening to you”. How we respond to those situations will be either by our old nature or our new nature. Once again we copy Peter’s words. “You are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”

We are blessed but in those moments when the needy seek relief they need to know we understand from a place of common pain. They won’t relate to our place of blessing. They need to believe our pain. Our test at that moment is to walk into fire willingly and experience the pain again for them, to know our testimony is real.

If they can believe our pain was real, perhaps they will believe our escape plan.