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.

Matthew 24:14

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

I suggest this is happening now but is it being done to the degree that God demands in order for this prophecy to come to pass?

Revelation 5:9

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation is a lot to ask in these changing times. The bible has not been translated into every tongue considering there are over 800 languages spoken in Indonesia alone. Then again it does not say the bible has to be translated into all those tongues just that the gospel is spoken there.

In this computer age there is translation software for a great deal of languages. If there is a market for it someone will try and make money from it. The United States is a buyers market, many nations want to learn English just to make money. If there is translation software we have no idea how many of those peoples have visited the gospel in a language they have been studying.

In this computer age there are thousands of webpages presenting both sound doctrine and false doctrine. We can only leave access up to God.

God is faithful and the Father will not leave one of His children behind.

Ephesians 1:4

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

We can come to Him now by faith. In any loving relationship it is important to enjoy it now rather than waiting for being called home. Relationships take time and effort.