THURSDAY September 28th
1 Peter 3:13–14
‘Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.’
1 Peter 5:8-11
‘Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.’
Is it not wonderful to have these precious promises that are found in God’s word that give to us wonderful reassurance that God is with us, even when we go through any suffering that we may have to go endure!
First we are reminded here that when we suffer, we are not alone for the same kind of suffering is being undertaken all around the world.
Secondly when we are suffering, God is with us! Think about the circumstances of the three Hebrew lads, on that occasion the presence of God with them was visible! But even though we may not see the visible presence of God, we will feel it!
Thirdly, the God of all grace will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish.
We are not alone, we are family together and God our Father is on our side and if God is for us, who can be against us, and we can be confident that nothing, absolutely nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The early Church suffered much for the sake of the gospel. Consider the disciples immediately after they had healed the lame man in Acts 4 and what about Stephen who became the first Christian martyr. What about those who were thrown into prison for preaching the gospel.
Consider also Paul with all that he lists in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29, ‘Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labours, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?’
All this in the experience of Paul was a fulfilment of the word that God gave to Ananias in Acts 9:16 concerning him when he was still called Saul, ‘For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ ‘I will show him’, indicates that God was going to give him a preview of what was to come in regards to his suffering and yet he was willing to be an ambassador for the gospel. Never boasting of himself or in himself but always boasting in the Cross of Christ. And it cost him!
We could look down through Church history through the centuries that have followed, periods where the Church and individuals have suffered much, far more than we can even imagine, including martyrdom for the sake of the gospel, and we come right up today into the 21st century, and we have brothers and sister who are enduring so much for the sake of the gospel, in countries that are far more opposed to Christ than our own nation.
Again as I have previously done, I encourage each of us to pray for those who are being persecuted for their faith.