Title: Rejoice in Suffering (1 Peter 4:12-16)
Contents
Rather, rejoice in suffering (1 Peter 4:12-16).
The intention of the apostle Peter in the text is also a spiritual interpretation of suffering. Therefore, he spoke firmly and resolutely about suffering. (13,14) In conclusion, suffering is absolutely necessary for believers. For those who believe in Jesus, suffering means that they need suffering as much as they need grace.
Because suffering like this exists for everyone who believes in Jesus, we need new spiritual knowledge and faith to understand the purpose of suffering and solve it rather than just hoping that there will be no suffering. For the sufferings of Christians do not happen by chance or meaninglessly. So the Bible defines suffering this way:
He said that the reason God gives us suffering is 'beneficial' (Psalm 119:71, Hebrews 12:10)) In any case, God's will is always related to the benefit of those who are chosen and called has been
① The benefits of leaving (John 16:7)
② Benefits of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7)
③ Benefits of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16)
④ The benefits of godliness (1 Timothy 4:8)
This is very important in the religious life of believers. If you accept that the circumstances or events of suffering or temptation that occur to believers are not for profit, but for harassment, misfortune, damage, failure, or curse, you would be an ignorant person who does not know God. Therefore, it is necessary to interpret the suffering well. Suffering should not be taken as a means of misery, failure, or destruction. Only when we believe that suffering exists as a benefit can we understand the meaning of suffering properly. So, what is the benefit of suffering from God?
I. Suffering helps us to know God deeply.
Suffering is clearly aimed at making you know God. When difficulties come, trials or hardships come, not thinking strangely, shaking and wandering, but examining the will of God and looking to God for why such things happen is good faith. (1 Peter 4:1,2) It is said that the reason for suffering is to stop sin. To stop sinning means not to follow lust. A person who does not follow lust becomes a person who lives according to the will of God.
However, if there is no trial or suffering, people are drawn to lust or lust (1 Peter 2:11, Titus 2:12, Gal 5:24).
Jesus was also tempted (Matthew 4:1-11). But he overcame the test. If he reacted lustfully, even Jesus could fall. If you thought about bread, your honor, and your own heroism, you would have been cast away with fatal unbelief. But in the midst of temptation, he looked to God. He did not sin even during temptation. All temptations were answered in God.
Jesus was able to overcome all temptations and sins without falling into temptation and sin through his thorough faith in God.
The reason that believers have trials and tribulations is to live according to God's will and to lead a life of obedience (1 Peter 1:17, 4:12). So, trials and hardships make us experience God deeply. It makes the knowledge of God rich (Ephesians 2:6-7). So, trials and tribulations are not the role of strange, surprising, and shaking for the saints, but a special grace for a deeper relationship and knowledge with God.
II. Suffering is a tool for training believers in their faith.
God has goals for His children. Believing in Jesus and receiving salvation is not the ultimate goal.
He wants the children of God not only to live like children, but also to become the mature people the Father wants them to be. To mature is to grow in faith. If faith does not grow, the work of God will not be better than it is now. So, God gives the believers training tools to grow their faith. (1 Timothy 4:6,7, Hebrews 5:13,14)
The training tool given to believers is the podium. Then why do we require believers to be nurtured and refined? it's for training. As God absolutely says in Lamentations 3:33, “It is not the intention of the Lord to make life suffer and to cause sorrow.” God does not inflict pain on people to make them suffer. But the reason for suffering is so that God may use them to grow their faith and to direct them toward the future. Therefore, if you want to be used by God even more than you are now, you need to improve your faith, personality, and spiritual skills, and you need to undergo a more intense training process. Only then can the soul, mind, body, and faith mature and be properly established. God wants our faith to be much better than it is now.
Remember that the tool that God has surely given to use you is suffering, and now it should be a subject of mature prayer that fills your body and soul with suffering.