While on the “side trail” last week, I thought a week to focus on worship would be good. Then I studied 1 Peter 4:12-16. Peter wrote about glory, using some form of the word four times in five verses. This section doesn’t start with glory, though.
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12).
This verse could come straight out of our conversations today. Why are we surprised when strange things happen, events beyond our comprehension, circumstances or situations that emphasize the darkness of the world in comparison to God’s light?
- Do not be surprised at the ordeals we face as this current world order unravels.
- The tests we face are more personal than we would like.
- They are trials of our character and virtue as Satan works to entice us to sin.1
- We are to be aware, not troubled, when we encounter such suffering.
James expressed it this way,
“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed” (James 1:13-14).
*What is the difference between the world unraveling and personal trials we face?
*What is the relationship between tests of our character and suffering as a Christian?
*How might the ordeals we face bring light in a dark world?
Peter encouraged his readers that they would also participate in Christ’s suffering.
“But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13). 
Suffering doesn’t sound very encouraging.
We may not experience the extreme persecution Jesus faced.
“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered” (Hebrews 5:7-8).
“Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8, NASB).
- But we partake in His sufferings as we fully accept His sacrificial death on our behalf.
God’s messenger, Ezekiel, proclaimed God’s Word to Israel. He took in God’s message, assimilated it, and preached both God’s redemption and wrath.
“Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.’ So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth … Go now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen.” … The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord on me” (Ezekiel 3:1-3, 11, 14).
God’s message isn’t only for Israel. John also received a call to proclaim God’s Word.
“Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more. ‘Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.’ So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, ‘Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in y our mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’ I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings. (Revelation 10:8-11).
*How is God’s word both sweet and sour for us today?
*In what ways might our suffering as a Christian be similar to what Jesus faced?
- When we participate in Christ’s sufferings, we partake and assimilate God’s full truth into our lives: redemption through Christ’s sacrificial death which leads to eternal life, and God’s wrath for those who do not believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
- We can summarize this by saying when we partake of Christ’s suffering, our next step is to communicate God’s truth to others.
- The sufferings of Christ and believers is contrasted with the glory that will follow.2
- When we suffer, we rejoice; when His glory is revealed, we will rejoice.
- Our joy is in the end result: God’s glory revealed.
- Suffering leads to glory.
*How does our suffering lead to glory?
Peter reminded his readers to hold on to thoughts of glory in the midst of suffering.
“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you” (1 Peter 4:14).
- Others may speak abusive words against you when you take a stand for Jesus.
- We have Christ’s authority in and over us through His Name—and Satan recognizes it.
“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (James 2:19).
- Not only does God’s Spirit rest on us, but we have the fullness of God in Christ.4
- We are blessed when we form an opinion about God that leads us to glorify Him.2
- The way I read the dictionary, because the Spirit of God rests on us, we can then rest.5
Imagine that. Instead of striving and railing against those who insult us, we rest as we trust in Christ.
*How and why are we blessed in the midst of trials?
*What does it mean to say the Spirit of God rests on you?
- Spiros Zodhiates Th.D., The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament (Chattanooga, Tennessee: AMG Publishers, 1992), 1135
- Zodhiates, 481
- Zodhiates, 478
- Zodhiates, 937
- Zodhiates, 156