I Peter, Chapter 4, ends with a marvelous reassurance. The end of the chapter – the end of the section about “Suffering for Being a Christian,” promises that no matter what we experience being a Christian, our wonderful God who created us will never fail us.
“But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! … 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.” [vs 16, 19 NLT]
It is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Jesus foretold that “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.” [John 15:18 NLT]
There is, however, a manner of suffering that does not please God … “murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs” and other like actions [1 Peter 4: NLT]
We are to “keep on doing what is right,” and it is always right to be true to God’s Word. That will often put us at odds with the world – and will always agitate the enemy of our soul.
There will be a backlash to actions that promote the truth of the Word of God in our world, but we can be assured that when we suffer for doing what is right – our God will never fail us. Praise His Glorious Name. Amen & Amen
