Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Suffering and Sanctification
(I Peter 4:1-5)
There’s something to be said for good, old-fashioned suffering! (Of course, Peter refers to suffering for one’s faith; not for one’s foolishness!) The right kind of suffering, Peter contends, produces a positive result:
“…he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin” (1).
American Christianity is far too comfortable. In fact, we have grown so accustomed to big crowds, burgeoning institutions, and bloated budgets that we fear upsetting the apple cart by presenting an uncompromising testimony for Christ. Tragically, some formerly stalwart institutions now focus on gaining the world’s respect and the government’s money. College accreditation, once “anathema” among Bible believers, has become the fashion of the day—causing some to drop their convictions in the dust and dash madly toward the federal government’s hog trough! “Here! Piggy, piggy…”
And all this success—money, facilities, and recognition—has not made us any more spiritual. Rather, the wealth and comfort of the Laodicean age has produced worldly, non-committal, apathetic believers who expect the best of everything without being willing to give anything to the cause of Christ!
A little real suffering would do us some good (2). Paying the price for Christ would deter us from lustful temptations (3). And genuine persecution would both clarify our testimony before world and assure our reward at the judgment seat of Christ. (4, 5).
