1 Peter – True Perseverance

They were scared. Both Jewish and Gentile converts to Christianity took a hit when they traded their culture’s beliefs for the truth found only in Jesus Christ. The Good News was only good to those who received it. Everyone else felt threatened by this powerful religion and many devoted their lives to stopping it.

It couldn’t have been easy. Standing for the truth when others aren’t is hard enough. But add to the ostracizing a heavy dose of persecution and it almost seems impossible. Would the faith of these new Christians survive Satan’s onslaught?

Peter wanted to make sure it would.

Composing his first letter, he reminded the battered believers what a blessing it was to know Christ. Though times were hard and the oppression strong, God’s grace and favor toward those who persevered would prove to be more than worth the struggle. They simply needed to set their sights on the hope that lay ahead. More than that, they needed to see suffering in a more godly light.

Considering Jesus’ life and death, were his followers surprised to receive the same rejection as their Master? Peter encouraged his fellow brothers and sisters that suffering itself is part of our calling. As we unite with Christ, we partake of His sufferings as well as His glory. Knowing that God uses even the most painful places in life for His glory and our good, we must rejoice! Humbly submitting to God’s will, even while suffering for His Name’s sake, produces the character Christians need to fight faith’s fight until the very end.

Though pain and joy seem mutually exclusive, Peter showed us a higher way. Even in the trials, God is still good. He never abandons His children. And He even uses it to bring us closer to Him. “So then,” Peter said, “those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” After all, we have nothing but sin to lose and heaven to gain in the end.

What does Peter say about suffering? Read 1 Peter 3:14-18.

Do you ever question why God allows suffering? What do you think?

How do you encourage others who are going through a tough time?