Thursday, December 17, 2009
After You’ve Suffered a While
(I Peter 5:10-14)
God always has a purpose in our suffering, and our suffering is always a temporary condition. As already mentioned, Peter was writing to first century saints who suffered severe persecution for their faith. Perhaps some of them wondered if their misery was truly worth it. Others, discouraged by the unrelenting nature of the persecution, questioned God’s design in their suffering.
In a reaffirmation of the benefits of suffering, Peter states that suffering for Christ accomplishes four specific benchmarks in the life of the believer. Suffering, Peter says, makes one perfect. The word “perfect” does not mean “flawless.” Rather, it means “mature.” Suffering has a way of forcing us to grow up in our faith; and that’s a good thing. Saints who believe that salvation brings “health, wealth, and Jesus too” are immature—juvenile, if you will—in their faith.
Suffering also helps to stablish saints. The word simply means to “render immovable,” like the Rock of Gibraltar. Saints who suffer for their faith hold to it more firmly than those who don’t. You won’t easily deny something in which you’ve invested blood, sweat, and tears.
In addition, suffering strengthens our faith. As one suffers, he gains strength and can bear up under incrementally increased suffering.
And lastly, suffering settles the Christian, establishing him forever on a firm, unmovable foundation.
So, you see, a little suffering may be just what you need!
