Rejoice to Participate in the Suffering of Christ

1 Peter 4:7-19
Key verse 4:13

But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

Today we continue our study in 1 Peter from verse seven of chapter four. Here, Peter continues to give instructions, warnings, and encouragement to the church.

Look at verse 7.
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

This verse seems to stand alone. It is not clearly attached to the previous passage or to verse eight. Probably, Peter encourages us to pray at this point in the passage because we need to pray to be able to participate in Christ's sufferings.

Peter says, "The end of all things is near." These words provide us with perspective. If the end of all things is near, we should give serious thought to what we will do before the end comes. We need to remember this so that we will always have a sense of urgency. The end of all things is near, so how should I live my life? What should I do?

Peter answers, "Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray." We should pray. The urgent thing for us to do before the end comes is to pray. Why pray? The passage doesn't go into detail on why we should pray when we remember that the end of all things is near; I think this is something each of us should think (and pray) about personally.

But there is one more thing we need to think about. Peter says, "therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray." In order to pray, we need to be both clear minded and self-controlled. Let's think about these two things.

First, clear minded. The fact that prayer requires a clear mind tells us that prayer is something that we do with our minds. Some people think otherwise. Some people use drugs to factilate prayer. They feel closer to God when they are "high." Some people feel that they can pray better when they are filled with emotions to the point that they are no longer operating rationally. But Peter encourages us to be "clear minded" so that we can pray.

For many years, my set prayer times were either early in the morning (right after I woke up) or late at night (before bed). But my mind was usually NOT very clear at these times. They are good times to pray because they are quiet times, and Jesus set an example for us by rising early in the morning to pray. But for me, it was difficult to be clear minded at these times. I often ended up sleep-praying, which kind of felt good but I'm not sure how effective it really was. I often woke from sleep prayer with a sore neck and drool on my sleeves. I know that everyone is different, and some people are clear minded in the morning, while others are clear minded late at night. For me, I'm clear minded in the morning if I got enough sleep. So effective prayer, for me, means that I need to go to bed at a reasonable time if I can help it, which means I shouldn't stay up late doing things in my computer if I don't really need to, and most of the time I don't.

This is where the second part comes in: "be self-controlled." I need to be self-controlled in order to pray. This may mean going to bed. This may also mean getting up early. This also means choosing to pray rather than doing something else. Many times, especially when I'm tired, I'd rather play "Angry Birds" on my phone than pray.

Finally, I should mention that to be "clear minded and self-controlled" is necessary so that we do not become distracted with issues and thoughts that make it impossible to pray. If I am concerned about a project, it may be difficult to stop thinking about that project in order to pray.

Look at verses 8-9:
 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
 
 Here is another word from Peter: "Above all, love each other deeply..." This instruction is "above all," which is what the Apostle John also says. How should we love each other? Deeply. Deeply is the opposite of shallowly. So we should love each other authentically, sincerely, and from our hearts. These words are challenging. I can't think of anyone I know who I hate, but I can think of many people who I know well and yet I cannot say that I love them deeply.  I need to work on this "above all."
 
 Peter adds, "because love covers over a multitude of sins." This is an interesting statement. Certainly, this statement describes the love of God through Jesus Chrsit who gave his life for the sins of the world. This also reminds me that God loves me despite my multitude of sins. How should I love others? As God loves me. So even though someone has sinned against me a multitude of times, all those sins will be covered if I love that persons deeply.  
     
     Practically, we can practice this love by offering hospitality to one another without grumbling (vs. 9).
     
Look at verses 10-11:
  10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Each of us should use whatever gift we have received to serve others. People usually use their God-given gifts for themseles. They use their intelligence, skills, education, time, energy, strength, money, etc., for themselves. In Christ, we should use what we have been given to serve others. This is what Jesus did. We should "faithfully" administer God's grace in its various forms. Thus, if we speak, and the ability to speak is also a gift from God, we should do it as one speaking the very words of God. Someone who speaks the word of God does not speak on his own behalf or to please himself, he speaks on God's behalf and to please God. If we serve, we should do it with the strength God provides, which means, at the least, that we sould serve whole-heartedly. In these ways, we will bring glory to God.

Now let's look at the remainder of the passage, in which Peter encoruages us to participate in the sufferings of Christ.

Look at verse 12:
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.

Peter's first message is that we should not be surprised at the painful trial we are suffering. It is not something strange. It is to be expected. It is what Christians go through.

Look at verse 13:
13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

Instead of being surprised, we hsould rejoice that we participate in the sufferings of Christ. When Jesus' glory is revealed, those who shared in his sufferings will also share in his glory.

Look at verse 14:  
  14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
  
  No one likes to be insulted, but if we are insulted because of the name of Christ, wea re blessed. We shouldn't feel bad aboout it; we should be glaod because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on us.

There are many places in the world where it is against the law to share the gospel with others. Beatings, prison, death, etc.

In America, we don't have to worry about that. You can go around anywhere and publicly proclaim your faith in Jesus and you will not be arrested.  

However, we do share in the sufferings of Christ. One of the great things about America is that it provides opportunities for people of any background to move up. But moving up takes a lot of effort.  There is a thing called "opportunity cost." It refers to the value of the alternative that we did not choose. When we are young, in particular, we have many opportunities, but what will we choose? We may "lose" out on opportunities the world offers because we are focused on serving God. But we should rejoice. This is one way that we share in the sufferings of Christ.
   
Look at verses 15-16:
     15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
     
     Peter is not saying that we should suffer for the sake of suffering,  and he is not saying that all suffering is good. Obviously, if we suffer from doing what is wrong, it's no good. However, if we suffer as a Christian, we should not be ashamed but praise God that we have that name.
     
     Look at verses 17-18:
       17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And,
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
   what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
   
   Again, Peter helps us to keep things in perspectie. Surely it is not easy to particiapte in Christs's sufferings, but if this is how things are for we Christians, how will it be for others? It may seem that others have it easier and Christains have it hard, but it will be very hard for those who do not obey the gospel of God at the judgment.
   
   What should we do, then? Look at verse 19:
19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

As we suffer according to God's will, we should do two things. First, we should commit ourselves to our faithful Creator. My life is in God's hands and God is in charge. If I trust in God, I can endure troubles and sufferings with confidence that things will work out by God's grace for the glory of God and for my good. Second, I should continue to do good. I should not give up.

Looking at this passage as a whole, I see that I should pray so that I can be ready for Jesus' coming. I see that, above all, I should love others, especially my brothers and sisters in Christ. Finally, I see that I should not be surprised when I suffer as a Christian; I should be glad and rejoice. These are all big messages that I need to work on daily.

I thank God for this passage and pray that I may be able to put what I have been taught into practice each day.