The Cost of Faithfulness
The expectation of the early church was that allegiance to Jesus would mean suffering. It wasn’t a matter of “if” but of “when” and “how”. For many, it was the rejection or ridicule of family, friends, and neighbors. For others, it was official persecution, suffering, and death. Peter says, don’t see it as “something strange” (4.13) but to “rejoice” because you suffer with Christ! We’re to suffer as we commit ourselves to living good lives, suffering not because we’re meddlers but because we’re disciples of Jesus. God is at work in our suffering, as he conforms us to the image of Christ and prepares us to share in the glory of Christ.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Read 1 Peter 3:13-18, 4:12-19
Peter seems to genuinely hope that his readers don't suffer for Jesus -- but he also seems realistic enough to know they likely will and to not be surprised by it. To what degree have you understood that suffering is part of the Christian life?
As we consider what it means to bear witness, what difference does it make to know ahead of time that it will likely involve ridicule, rejection, loss or harm? How do we prepare ahead of time for it?
As you look at your life, what are the (potential and actual) costs involved in bearing witness to Jesus? Where have you already suffered? What has been the impact?
Peter says if we suffer we are blessed. What does he mean? How have you experienced that? Where have you experienced the faithfulness of God in that?
May 28, 2023 - Steve Hart