Suffering For Being A Christian (1 Peter 4:12-19)

I was scanning biblegateway.com for a new passage to interpret. Going through the different books, I came along 1 Peter and then to this passage about Suffering as a Christian.

12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And,
"If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"

19So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

1peter4:12-19

Verse 12

12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.

- Here Peter is writing/saying the letter.
- He tells us that we shouldn't be surprised at the trials we face.
- We as Christians sometimes think that because we have God, we will have good and perfect lives. But I've realized that after coming to Christ, my life hasn't gotten better. Actually it has gotten worse with all the trials God has thrown at me. But I rejoice because all these sufferings are for good and all have a purpose behind it.

Verse 13
13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

- Peter tells us to REJOICE because we suffer. Why? So that when we truly understand why God planned this and when we overcome our suffering with God, we can be OVERjoyed when we see his magnificent glory.
- We may not see it now, but we will learn and understand why God planned certain trials in our lives.

Verse 14
14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

- Peter even tells us that we are blessed when we are insulted because of Christ's name. The holy spirit is with us.
- I believe that Peter is trying to say, no matter in any circumstances, be joyful because God has blessed you with so much. The trial/suffering cannot take it away from you.

Verse 15 and 16

15If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

- Peter tells us that suffering shouldn't be as bad as a murderer, thief, or a meddler.
- He tells us again to praise God and not to be ashamed of the trial we are facing everyday.

Verse 17 and 18

17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"

- Peter asks us questions about judgment day and salvation. Im guessing that he's trying to question us that if we don't turn to God about our sufferings, what happens to those without God in their lives?

Verse 19
19So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

- Peter sums up the passage by telling us clearly, that those suffering with God in their lives should continue to have faith and continue to do good.

Mainly, I believe that we need to understand and know that we should be joyful in our sufferings and trials. God has planned these things in our lives for certain reasons and we will discover those reason eventually. Whether if its tomorrow, a decade later, or when we go to heaven, we will understand and know why.

SUB it,
Smij Nahc † [Rejoice in your trials. Praise God in Everything.]
God Bless You ♥