1 Peter 4:12 "Dear friends, do not be astonished~| that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you."
It is hard to imagine that a religion that teaches goodness, kindness, love and forgiveness could be so hated throughout the ages, but especially in modern times. No other religion provokes such animosity. It appears that the early believers were equally astonished.
Jesus warned us, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18). Christians should not be surprised at the behavior of unbelievers; in fact, it should be expected.
The horror of a “trial by fire” became a reality in the Neronian persecution when Christians were covered with pitch and used as living torches to light the imperial gardens at night. Stake-burning of Christians in Asia Minor became a common practice to intimidate Christians to abandon their loyalty to Jesus, but it failed to shake their faithfulness to the Savior.
Persecution and suffering are part of God’s plan to perfect Christians. Peter had written, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 1:6-7). The phrase, “if necessary,” means that some may avoid this experience, at least in its severity, but not everyone. Peter gives several instructions for different levels of persecution:
False accusations: “Keep your conduct among the [unbelieving] Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Pet 2:12).
Ridicule: “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Pet 1:9).
Maligning: “With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you” (1 Pet 4:4).
It does not matter the culture or the time. Godly men and women who stood for the gospel and the spreading of the knowledge of the Word of God have universally been ridiculed, tortured and killed in the cruelest of ways, just to get them to recant from refusing to join the majority. Thousands or millions have gone through far more than we will ever have to suffer, not to mention what our Savior suffered on our behalf. Dare we ever shrink back from the little that God allows us to suffer for His name’s sake? How will we face our cohorts in glory? How will we stand before our Savior with rejoicing, when we were ashamed of Him in our little world and brief time on earth?
Paul put it this way: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom 8:18).
NKJ Psalm 44:16-17 Because of the voice of him who reproaches and reviles, Because of the enemy and the avenger. All this has come upon us; But we have not forgotten You, Nor have we dealt falsely with Your covenant.
For a year's daily devotional of these Bible studies, order a copy of the book Truths to Live By at Branches Publications for your copy.
It is hard to imagine that a religion that teaches goodness, kindness, love and forgiveness could be so hated throughout the ages, but especially in modern times. No other religion provokes such animosity. It appears that the early believers were equally astonished.
Jesus warned us, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18). Christians should not be surprised at the behavior of unbelievers; in fact, it should be expected.
The horror of a “trial by fire” became a reality in the Neronian persecution when Christians were covered with pitch and used as living torches to light the imperial gardens at night. Stake-burning of Christians in Asia Minor became a common practice to intimidate Christians to abandon their loyalty to Jesus, but it failed to shake their faithfulness to the Savior.
Persecution and suffering are part of God’s plan to perfect Christians. Peter had written, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 1:6-7). The phrase, “if necessary,” means that some may avoid this experience, at least in its severity, but not everyone. Peter gives several instructions for different levels of persecution:
False accusations: “Keep your conduct among the [unbelieving] Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Pet 2:12).
Ridicule: “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Pet 1:9).
Maligning: “With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you” (1 Pet 4:4).
It does not matter the culture or the time. Godly men and women who stood for the gospel and the spreading of the knowledge of the Word of God have universally been ridiculed, tortured and killed in the cruelest of ways, just to get them to recant from refusing to join the majority. Thousands or millions have gone through far more than we will ever have to suffer, not to mention what our Savior suffered on our behalf. Dare we ever shrink back from the little that God allows us to suffer for His name’s sake? How will we face our cohorts in glory? How will we stand before our Savior with rejoicing, when we were ashamed of Him in our little world and brief time on earth?
Paul put it this way: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom 8:18).
NKJ Psalm 44:16-17 Because of the voice of him who reproaches and reviles, Because of the enemy and the avenger. All this has come upon us; But we have not forgotten You, Nor have we dealt falsely with Your covenant.
For a year's daily devotional of these Bible studies, order a copy of the book Truths to Live By at Branches Publications for your copy.
0 comments:
Post a Comment