In our nation, it is a challenge to live for Christ. Be it a city or a remote forest area, to live as a disciple without denying Jesus in word or deed is possible only by the grace of God. It was a challenge personally for me to teach the Christians who were sent out of their villages, people who were denied the right to bury the body of their beloved ones in their own village, men and women stripped and beaten for their faith and the ones who ran into the forests to escape the persecution. Over the last four months, St. Peter’s first letter was the appropriate portion to encourage them.
Three points stand out in this book that I would like to share with you.
- Suffering is inevitable for Christians.
Suffering is essential for growth. Jesus explained to the disciples that just as the seed that is sown needs sunlight to grow well, trouble or suffering comes because of the Word; growth follows suffering and that is inevitable (Mark 4:17).
Suffering is a test of our faith. Again in 1 Peter, we read, In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
- Suffering is “Jesus’ call to follow Him by taking up the cross.”
Mark 8:34 says, Then he (Jesus) called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” The cross is the plan and will of God for Jesus and so one who follows too must take the cross which is God’s plan and will for us. It is the way to eternity and there is no alternative. Interestingly, this is the way to rest too as Mathew 11:28 says, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. As we carry the cross, we rest in Him and rejoice in Him.
- Suffering moulds us into the likeness of Jesus.
The famous verse Romans 8:28 “For all things work together….” follows with a verse that says For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…”. A wooden piece becomes beautiful furniture and a rock becomes a beautiful sculpture after a lot of chiselling. This is what happens in our lives as we grow in Jesus’ likeness.
The reward for suffering is an eternity with Jesus, which is eternal life. His abounding love and the power of the Holy Spirit strengthen us to go through the chiselling of our fallen nature and corrupt heart to become new creatures in Christ. I just want to say what Jim Elliot said – He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.