Peter knew he was facing a cross in Rome because of his steadfast proclamation of the gospel. What cross is lying ahead for you?
I Peter 2:18-25 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the forward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, yet take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are not returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
We can all identify with being no stranger to pain. By this time Peter had gone through suffering in many ways. The pagan Roman Empire sought to destroy Christianity. Not only was Peter suffering the beatings, he was taunted. More than likely he was told “if Jesus is really the son of God, why are you in prison? Why do we have this power over you?” Yet from his jail cell he wrote this letter to all the churches. When faced with illness or other types of suffering, we are so prone to beg and pray for relief from the pain. If relief does not come, then we lose faith and want to blame God for letting us down. Let’s face it. Sometimes it is God’s will to work a miracle and deliver us, and sometimes he allows us to continue on in suffering, with a higher purpose in mind. If Peter, as important and vital as he was to the early church, had to continue on in great suffering, and even an early death, then why do we feel that it should never happen to us? Peter was certainly more important to the church than you and me.
Don’t think it strange when you go through sufferings. We don’t know what is on the tomorrow. The world is waxing worse and worse. Brother is betraying brother, daughter her mother. Many find their enemies in their own household. This is a time of chaos and unrest as nations come apart at the seams. So far the US has been spared what many are going through. Worse times are coming. You have uncertainties—job, health, finances. Instead of getting more organized, we seem to be following the way of other countries.
Growing up many of us knew hard times, but we’ve grown soft with abundance and ease of living. The world is getting right for the judgment of God and the entrance of the anti-Christ. Increasingly the finger is pointed at fundamental Christians. The media doesn’t report what happening in that realm. With the burdens you already have, imagine economic failure if it all fell apart. We won’t be watching it on television; we will be players. The sufferings have begun. The tremors have started; the earthquake is coming.
Peter said we’ll suffer but told us to stay committed to the Lord. We must remember the sufferings of the Lord. Verse 24 says who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. The curse of our sins put Jesus on that tree. He suffered to the death. There is no way for us to get out of suffering; we must endure it and keep ourselves committed to the Lord. He leads us through still waters and in green pastures, but sometimes we go through the valley of shadows—dark, scary ones that cause anxiety. David said I will fear no evil for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Faith will be put to the test. Now is the time to turn it all over to the Lord. He left us the example as he blazed a pathway of suffering. Our Shepherd prepared the way. We can keep our eyes on him. Even if we suffer, even if we have less next year than we do now, even if sickness overtakes us, our Shepherd is still with us. He provides what we need. We can still have safety in the rod and staff of the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.
Peter said to be subject to your bosses and supervisors, not just the good ones but the mean ones too. You are bought you with a price; if you are saved, you are his. Your family can be taken away. Your assets can be taken, but Jesus can’t be taken. Your role is not to give him up.
The devil tries to drive wedges between people but nothing has to stand between us and God. Whether we go through the fire or the flood, He is with us. Isaiah 40 says the Lord will hold our hand. The evil workings of this world can’t be compared to the workings of God.
Jesus did not sin when accused. When you are accused of being wrong in your belief in God, don’t turn around and lose the faith. Religion is fake; it can be lost in a heartbeat. Jesus is real; it’s easy to hang onto him. Jesus was reviled but didn’t do it in return. He offered no threats. He gave no smacks back. Agrippa was almost persuaded to be a Christian by Paul. If that was his sole testimony, he is in hell. Almost doesn’t cut it. If you want to go to heaven, you must go all the way; you must endure to the end. Verse 19 says to endure grief, suffering wrongfully. We’re no better than our Savior. He took it. Because he took it for us, we can take it too. We can make it.
Six hundred years before Jesus came, Isaiah wrote a description of what would be. Jesus would bear our sorrows and be stricken with grief. By his stripes we would be healed. The stripes Jesus bore were the marks of our sins. Thirty-five years after Jesus died, Peter taught the meaning of what Isaiah said. Jesus allowed himself to suffer for us to give us healing. Life and this world will hurt us. Nothing will relieve the pain and suffering except a commitment to the Lord. He is our faithful Creator, Savior, and Shepherd.
It breaks God’s heart that we have to suffer. If we endure, if we keep the faith and live the right way, one day the suffering will be over. There is no question that we will suffer. It’s headed our way sooner or later. The question is how will we handle it? One thing is sure. We can’t handle it on our own. Turn to Jesus. Desire to please him and submit to his will, accepting God’s answer, be it either way. That makes acceptable suffering in the eyes of God.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 