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Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, since ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye:for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on part he is evil spoken of, but on your part, he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on his behalf. For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God: and if it first at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 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.

 

I had a cousin on my father's side of the family that told me to really study the writing of first and Second Peter. She told me that we as lay people could relate to his teaching better than Paul or John in the epistles. I didn't get it till one day I read First Peter on a lunch break some many years ago. Then my eyes were opened to what Peter wrote and how he showed his message to us as the reader. Now, in these days of many questions, I find myself going back to Peter.

In this text he shows us as Christians what we are part of, how we show ourselves, and what to do if confronted about our faith in Christ. First, in suffering, we are to rejoice in Christ since we are partakers of Christ's sufferings. Remember, he took on the sins of us that we may have eternal life with him. Nothing we did or will do can change this fact. Peter also questions what will happen to the ungodly and the sinners. In suffering we are to glorify God. We are part of that type of people that knows all things are created by God. Even those that do evil against the Christians. Consider Peter wrote this when he was part of the Roman Empire. The Romans persecuted the Christians with the hope or removing them off the face of the empire. But God had other ideas.

We are to keep the faith no matter what our situation or circumstance. And we are not to take any type of vengeance against those who are inflicting our suffering on us. That is for the judgement of God to be upon them. That is how great our God is in our world of faith. Therefore, rejoice in all things. Even when you think what is going on is against your thought or life, God is always there. Have faith in Christ and watch the results.

Lord be part of our lives in all things. Amen!

Russ Nixon

rwnixon57@yahoo.com