Today’s Reading:
1Peter 4:14-19 (17, 19)
“If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15If you suffer; however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! 17For the time has come for judgement, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgement begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? 18And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?” 19So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.” (1Peter 4:14-19 NLT)
Judgement here does not necessarily mean condemnation, rather it suggests testing or evaluation that may result in approval or disapproval (v.17). And verses 12-13 talked about the fiery trial or ordeal which is meant to purify, strengthen, and edify our Christian lifestyle in order to make us holy and pleasing unto God. This admonition to endure suffering because of the name of Christ is directed especially, to believers than those who do not believe. Endurance may not be that easy, but with Christ, all things are possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. Here is a call to every serious-minded Christian believer to aspire to have healthy spiritual growth, live it, and do things pleasing unto God. Peter even said that it should not be that we suffer for wrongdoing, but if we are insulted because we bear the name of Christ, we will be blessed for the glorious Spirit of God rests on us (vv. 14-15; Jn. 16:33). Meaning, it is a privilege to be called Christians. Many Christians publicly claim to have a relationship with God but live contrary to this in their private lives. It is now time for us as followers of Christ to assess and improve on our Christian lifestyle. Why? Because the day is far spent, and the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night when we least expect (1Thess. 5:2).
Our behaviour in secret and in the public must reflect the nature of Christ that we profess so that we will not be seen disgracing Him in the presence of unbelievers around us, and new converts, or that we are working contrary to the Kingdom of God. There are many areas of our lives that can fuel the gratification of the flesh. For example, where we spend our leisure time, sort of company we associate with, sort of things we allow in our homes, the regular movie and television programmes we watch, the magazines and the novels we read, the website we frequent. Are they enhancing our godly character? (Rom. 13:11-14). The light of Christ must shine in and around us to reflect His glory. Our relationship with God matters greatly, and this entails submission and obedience to His command – i) Thou shalt have no other gods before me (Ex. 20:3); ii) Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might/strength (Deut. 6:5); and iii) “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self (Mk 12:30-31).
At this global dark period of grieve, pain, confusion, depression, lack in all areas, persecution, and economic depression, we should return to God and in every way do our best to please Him. We are reminded that: if we suffered unjustly from the ignorance of others, from parental mistakes, our faulty foundation, erroneous traditions, and culture; our suffering cannot be compared with what the unrighteous will suffer later. We should continue to do things pleasing unto God and continue to entrust our lives to God who is ever faithful to us, with the assurance that these things will not pass unnoticed. This thinking would motivate our thankfulness to God and also help others through the pain and suffering of being a Christian inflicted by ignorant people who do not know nor appreciate God as the All in All.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
My Father, grant me divine visitation that will revive my life, in Jesus, name.
My dear Father, give me what I can handle and still keep you as No. ONE in my life, in Jesus name.
Create in me a pure heart, renew a right, teachable, and humble spirit within me, in Jesus name.
Father, grant the body of Christ the mind of Christ – to love, to forgive, to tolerate each other, genuine repentance, understanding, submission, humility, brokenness, and watchfulness, in Jesus name.
Father, completely uproot demonic strangers on evil assignment from our land, in Jesus name.
コメント