Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. - 1 Peter 4:12-13
I am always a little amused when I hear someone speaking of his or her "momentary affliction" as if it was comparable to the experiences of Paul on one of his missionary journeys (beatings, imprisonments, shipwrecks, etc.). Perhaps our first-world comforts have lowered our standard of what it truly means to suffer for our Savior when we couch our inconveniences as "fiery ordeals."
Even if the "test" only happens to be a simple speed bump along the winding road of Christian service, should we be surprised? Of course not, testing purifies, focuses, and causes the life of the Christ-follower to reflect more brightly the presence of the "Tester."
Today, all over the world, "family" is truly sharing in the sufferings of Christ. Let us measure our "trials" by that canon and humbly move on by His grace.
Difficulties are God's errands; and when we are sent upon them, we should esteem it a proof of God's confidence. - Henry Ward Beecher
Comments