Through an inspired pen, Peter wrote: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (I Peter 4: 12-16). Christians, as Peter established, ought to expect to hear from others that they are in disapproval of our faith in the Lord and that which we do for the Lord. In suffering reproach at the hands of others, we are to be happy. Have you often wondered why it is that you can do right and all people want to say about you is all wrong? Stop wondering! The Bible says you will face it. However, even as Peter instructed, we do not want to be suffering because we did something wrong. There are those Christians who do not pay bills, who lie, cheat, are lazy, etc. and they think their problems are all a result of the work of Satan. Not so! Our suffering for the Lord has to come because of our faithfulness. Committing a sinful action, such as those mentioned above, is not suffering for the sake of our Lord. It is suffering because of stupidity. We also have to focus on living our lives so that those who would accuse us are found to be false accusers. Again, this point too is established through inspiration by the pen of Peter: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing” (I Peter 3:15-17). Suffering for righteousness sake (Matthew 5:10), means our doctrine and conduct will be above true reproach. The Lord, through the pen of Paul, said: “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe” (I Timothy 4:8-10). Our godly lives and our faith in our Lord should be evident to others in our lives. We should be able to make similar statements likened unto what Paul said about his manner of life. Paul told Timothy: “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Timothy 3:10-12). To the church of Christ in Thessalonica Paul said: “Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe” (I Thessalonians 2:10). Just a few sentences later, Paul said: “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost” (I Thessalonians 2:14-16). If you take an account of what has already been mentioned in this brief article and you begin to look at all the faithful who suffered throughout the sixty-six books of the Bible, you see one common thread. That common thread is that all who suffered did so because they lived godly lives doing the Lord’s work. People often talk about the faith of men like Moses, Daniel, Peter, James, Paul, and of course Jesus. They talk of how they suffered so much to remain true to God. Yet, they rarely make applications to their lives. Those same people that will talk about how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went into the fire and came out unharmed, but they shun how it was their manner of life that brought them to the brink of death. The question is, are we living the kind of lives that cause the devil to take notice in us? Satan is a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8). However, he is not hungry for those he’s already consumed. In other words, Satan does not seek to devour those “Christians” that are already resting in the bottom of his stomach. Yes, that is a figure of speech. However, it is Satan’s work to blind our minds from the truth (II Corinthians 4:3- 4). If you are already blind, he does not need to come after you. You are not meal worthy for that old lion the devil if he’s already feasted on you. To even begin talking about being worthy to suffer for the cause of Christ you first have to be worthy of saying you belong to the Lord. James said: “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience” (James 5:10). Is our speech and our conduct in the name of the Lord (Colossians 3: 17)? Can we liken ourselves to the prophets of old to even begin to understand how they are an example to us of suffering affliction and endurance? Jesus suffered because of false charges because He conducted Himself in the manner we ought to (I Peter 2:21-25). Let our reproach be for His name sake. |
| Volume VII ~ Issue XXXV ~ May 27th, 2007 |
Words of Truth Weekly - Online Edition
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What must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37)? Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16 & Romans 10:17),
repent of their sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of
sins into the church of Christ (Acts 2:38, I Corinthians 12:12-13, and Romans 6:1-6). One must then remain
faithful (Rev. 2:10).
repent of their sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of
sins into the church of Christ (Acts 2:38, I Corinthians 12:12-13, and Romans 6:1-6). One must then remain
faithful (Rev. 2:10).
| Edited by: Brian A. Yeager |
| If Ye be Reproached for the Name of Christ… By: Brian A. Yeager |
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| Are You Living the Kind of Life to Suffer for the Name of Christ? |
| Are You Meal Worthy? |
| Conclusion |