… after you have suffered a little while …
Summary: Peter uses the word “suffering” throughout his letter. What the context of this letter tells us is that choosing to serve God rather than our flesh creates tension with the flesh. We call this tension ”suffering.“
Isn’t it refreshing to hear Peter’s words? He doesn’t sugarcoat faith in Christ with a bunch of feel-good platitudes. He is not promising that you will get rich or that life (in the flesh) will be coming up roses. Instead, he points us to the thorns: As Christians, we will suffer.
Why?
There are two main sources of suffering. Conflict within ourselves, and conflict with others.
Paul describes it this way: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 7: 12-13)
The body wants to live “according to the flesh.” If you doubt me on this, try going without food for a day. Almost as soon as the thought forms in your head, the flesh begins to argue.
“Oh yeah, that sounds like a good idea, but you really need something to eat. After all, you might grow faint if you don’t eat! What if it throws your system off? You know how cranky you get when you haven’t eaten enough. Besides, you could use a snack right now. Oh, look — there are some cookies… Mmmmm… “
The second source of conflict is exactly the same, only it rises up in the form of other people’s battle with the flesh. Those who have given in to the flesh are at odds with those who choose to suffer for Christ. Our suffering as Christians highlights their own indulgence in the flesh. The result is that we are not only attacked from within our own bodies, we are also subject to attack from those who have given themselves over to the desires of the flesh. (Ephesians 4: 17-19)
Peter knows better than most the struggles that come with the flesh. His failures as a disciple are the stuff of legends. (Not exactly the kind of legacy he imagined.)
When we say “no” to the flesh, no matter what form of demands the flesh makes, we suffer. Doing God’s will and trusting Him is not easy. God’s law goes against the grain we were raised with as people of this world. We hunger for justice, but we want it now. Saying “no” to the demands of our flesh calling for immediate justice is like saying “no” to our hunger for food. We don’t want to wait. We don’t want to trust in God’s timing and his justice. The flesh keeps nibbling away at our desire to do God’s will. Thank God for God! Without his grace and mercy, we would be hopeless. Instead, he gives us his Son, Jesus.
Through Jesus, God redeems us (Galatians 3:13-14), brings us back into relationship with him (John 3:14-15), and puts his Holy Spirit in us (John 14:26). Jesus makes it possible to trust God as we do. Jesus gives us a reason to suffer while we wait on God and trust in Him.
Application: Expect that choosing to obey God will feel like ‘”suffering” to the flesh.
Food for Thought: What does Peter mean by ”a little while?”
Our time in this fallen world, compared to our time in Heaven.
Tim,
So true! Compared to eternity, this “long time” on earth will indeed seem like a mere blink of an eye.
Our time on earth really is short compared to eternity (James 4: 14). Our present sufferings are not comparable to our eternal reward in Christ Jesus (Romans 8: 18).
Rich,
Thank you! You raise an important point. This life represents our only opportunity to suffer for our Lord. It may seem to be a weird way of thinking about it, but we do have a unique opportunity now.
Thank you Rich. I never really thought that our eternal life after this will never have the same sufferings in them.
Well, as a normally silent frequent reader, thought I would provide comments this morning, but I have to say that Tim and Rich nailed it. Well done. Thanks, Jeff, for your constant thought provocation.
JEC –
Thank you for stopping in!! Thank you, too, for your encouragement. I live to provoke! (In a good way! 🙂 )
Been said. As a youngster it took forever to reach the magic years of privilege. 16 could drive, 18 out of school, 21 an adult etc. As an old man, where did it go?
I would add a point to our suffering. As I look around at the non believers, see how they live, think, and their priorities. Murder is called abortion, an abomination, is called love, addictions to drugs leading to hell on earth are legalized as recreational, lunacy is seen as wisdom. Then I see little ones getting on busses so they can be educated, indoctrinated to see all of this as normal.
My heart aches. Christ in me suffers as millions are being fed lies as truth.
Ron,
What a poignant perspective on our life here. What you describe is heartbreaking. It is also motivation for us to continue in service to God and to our neighbors. Thank you!
Jeff,
You bet Jeff, remain ALWAYS EAGER TO SERVE! Always looking for that Just one more.
Blessings,
Ron
In response to Ron – Living a life which continuously practices sin and which does not honor or glorify the Lord in all we think, say, act and do is a life of slavery, real pain and suffering. Chopping to walk with the Lord and be in constant fellowship with Him and other believers is worthwhile and far less painful. Mediation upon the Word of God, (Psalm 1), immediate confession of fault, error, and sins of omission or commission (I John 1:9) is a wise choice.
Blessed is the man (person) who (Psalm 1). The delight of the person who mediates on God’s Word, practices living in the Lord’s presence, trusts His counsel, and the wisdom of godly individuals, obeys the precepts and commandments of scripture; this is the person God grows and prospers.
The Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 1:6).
We can suffer for poor choices, we can suffer from temptation by both the flesh and or the devil or one of his underlings, and we can suffer for righteousness and God’s kingdom. Christians who pursue righteousness will be persecuted and suffer. (II Timothy 3:12). The good news is victory is possible and results in the peaceable fruit of righteousness. A tested, purified, shaped and formed metal or saint is stronger, more resilient and more faithful and steadfast.(I Peter 5:10 c and d) Oops, don’t get ahead in the text.☺ (See also Romans 5: 1-5).
God can turn any tragedy into a triumph, if we only trust Him, pray, wait, and watch.
God never promises to remove us from our struggles. He does promise, however, to change the way we look at them.
We can experience joy, and a peace which passes all comprehension, even in the midst of suffering. (Philippians 4:4-9)
I am looking forward to heaven, however, when the suffering is past. Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! (I Corinthians 15:57).
Great response Jeffrey!
Thanks,
Ron
Correction: The word in the second sentence should not be “Chopping”, my bad, failure to proofread. It should be either “Continuously” or “Steadfastly”.
Sorry, I will try to be more careful. I guess I was a bit impetuous, in my opining on “suffering”, and am now experiencing the suffering of relying on a Google keyboard. My intent was cancelled or changed, a rather more common occurrence on social media lately, is it not? 🤔😑😉
Jeff,
Thank you for your comments today!