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1 Peter 1:6 – 7
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. How does one justify all the good about God, His blessings, promises, peace, joy, contentment and even happiness with the reality of suffering in a Christian’s life? There seems to be so much confusion about suffering vs. peace when it comes to Christian living. Does God really try to make the Christian life so hard no one can really live a truly joy-filled life as an adopted child of God? Peter gives us five truths concerning suffering every Christian should realize. Let’s consider
THE FACT OF SUFFERING! The first truth we must learn is all Christians suffer. The suffering is either because their daily walk with The Lord is so vibrant and dynamic those spiritual forces of evil attack them continually to stop, and, destroy them; or because a Christian is knowingly walking in evil and deliberately ignoring the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The second truth is that our faith is tested in trial. Read James 1:3 and follow your study Bible to the many other verses that teach the same thing. One writer says, “suffering is the pathway to Godliness that passes the test in the last day (v. 7).” Then he defines pathway as “a sequence of changes or events constituting a progression.” Is your spiritual life such that God and other can see progressive growth in your faith as you walk life’s pathway? If you are willing, you can easily determine why you are suffering. It is not a guessing game, it’s a matter of obedience! Someone might ask so why must we suffer? Peter’s letters are filled with his look to the future life God has prepared for all His adopted children. The third truth from verses 4, 5 is that suffering is designed to make us focus on God for all our guidance. Read Job. 23:10. Only God knows how to get us through the fire in the least amount of time and accomplish the most in the process. When we follow Him, we suffer less and learn more! The fourth truth is that suffering teaches us to persevere in our Christian walk. One must dig deep into their heart and cling to the Holy Spirit in the midst of severe trial. Only He can give the stamina required to endure. The fifth truth is that suffering here is designed to make us focus on our future in heaven. This truth applies only to those who are now walking with the Lord daily! If you are walking contrary to His Word and will, you suffering is designed to make you repent. One can’t focus on heaven while they are focused on this world. You probably know someone who has had a knee or hip or some other joint surgically replaced. The pain and suffering of a defective joint is severe. The person knows that even though the surgery and rehab will hurt, it will also end, and life will be much better because the pain will be gone. However, the pain will go, only if the person follows the directions of the doctor and therapists. So it is with Christians. God knows exactly what “surgery” we all need and He knows perfectly how to perform it with the least amount of pain and greatest success. The degree of difficulty through the process is up to you! If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.
