But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
None of us want to suffer. Often we actively resist suffering, and sometimes we view it as correction or punishment from God, especially if it is a fellow believer who is suffering! And yet in his first epistle, Peter tells his readers that if we suffer at the hands of ungodly people for righteousness’ sake, we are blessed indeed. Paul reminds us that believers are not only called to trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation but also to be ready to suffer for His name’s sake. And as we go through life, we are even called to rejoice in our adversities, knowing that adversity and suffering works endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. Suffering for righteousness’ sake must never be confused with the suffering we experience as a consequence of our sin or wrong choices. If we suffer for doing what is wrong, we may have to face some serious repercussions. But if we suffer for doing what is right in God’s eyes; obeying His Word, we may well have to face mocking, threats, persecution, and death. We live in a fallen world where sin, sorrow, pain, and death is the portion of all men. We live in a world where the vast majority of people are dead in their trespasses and sins, at animosity with God, and have willingly rejected His gracious offer of salvation. The good news of the gospel is deeply offensive to prideful men because it unceremoniously unseats a king’s self from the throne of his heart. It forces fallen men to either admit that they are sinners in need of a Savior or reject the truth of the gospel. The truth of the gospel of grace is a mystery to those that are lost in their sin, and so the hatred and contempt they have for the Lord is transferred into hatred and contempt for His children. Nevertheless, we are not to feel threatened or intimidated by those that hate us. We are not to fear our adversaries or be troubled if they mock our faith or be fearful by their threats and animosity. Peter tells us that suffering for the sake of righteousness is a blessing that brings with it great reward and immense joy. Suffering turns into a blessing, when we realize that we are being identified with Him and we are favored by the Father if we suffer for righteousness’ sake: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake,” are Christ’s astonishing and comforting words. And let us remember that if we are willing to suffer for Him, we have the immense joy of reigning with him in heavenly places.
Spiritual Steve 