Suffer as a Christian

The book of 1 Peter is an incredible treatise on the suffering that Saints must pass through even when they are righteous.  One of the key messages that Peter gave was that even though Christ was perfect He still suffered, and so we should likewise expect suffering even though we may be righteous.  He said, “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin” (1 Peter 4:1).  I love that language: we are to “arm” our minds with the idea that since Christ suffered we too as Christians should be prepared to suffer.  We can prepare our minds with faith, knowing that suffering doesn’t mean that God has abandoned us.  We may indeed suffer because we are followers of Christ, but we can still be “happy” knowing that we are suffering for His name: “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you” (1 Peter 4:14). 

                Another teaching that we have from Peter throughout these chapters is that suffering will in the end be of great benefit to us.  He told them “that the trial of [their] faith” would be “much more precious than of gold that perisheth” (1 Peter 1:7).  How will trials be precious?  One way is that God will use our trials to perfect us: “The God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).  Our challenges and sufferings can be used to strengthen and ground us in the faith.  Ultimately we must pass through the refiner’s fire in order to be saved.  Peter put it this way: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).  If we can learn to be humble and cast our cares upon the Lord when we suffer, the Lord will “care” for us and continue to perfect us until He can exalt us. 

                Ultimately as we suffer we must put our trust in the will of God and submit ourselves to Him.  Peter told the early Saints, “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:19).  If God wills that we suffer even though we have chosen righteousness, then we must commit our souls to Him.  God wants us to choose right and follow His commandments even when such engenders problems or suffering: “For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:15).  We are to “do well” instead of doing wrong even if “when ye do well, and suffer for it.”  We must learn to do well and take any suffering because of our righteous choices “patiently, this is acceptable with God” (1 Peter 2:20).  Whether we are righteous or wicked we will certainly suffer in our lives, but “it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing” (1 Peter 3:17).  For if “ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye” (1 Peter 3:14-15).  Perhaps the best way to sum up Peter’s messages is simply this:  “If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed” (1 Peter 4:16).  Suffering as a Christian means remembering who Christ is and why He, being perfect, still suffered, and how He could say “not my will, but thine, be done” to the Father (Luke 22:42).  If we can say that in times of trial, then we are truly suffering as a Christian.