​Week 41, Day 4

​Week 41, Day 4
October 13, 2022
Scripture: 1 Peter 4
“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”” (1 Peter 4:14–18)
After my baptism I heard several well-intended Christians tell me that I needed to be careful. Because I made a good decision for Jesus, they said, “Satan is going to be on the attack.”
A few days after I was baptized, I received a detention from my teacher because I continued talking during class and was disruptive. On the long walk from the bus stop to my house, I had to think about what I was going to tell my parents, and why I got a detention. I handed the note informing my mom of my detention and I told her, “Satan gave me a detention.”
To my surprise, my mom didn’t buy it. I got in trouble for blaming Satan for my poor behavior.
This is a lighthearted look at a text that teaches us an important lesson on life as Christians. If we suffer because of the evil we do, there is shame in that and we need to take ownership of it. But for the Christian who suffers because they are following the will of God, well that suffering is in fact a blessing and will glorify God because of it.
Let us endure suffering for the glory of God, not for our wrongdoing, but for the sake of the glory of God. Let us hold unswervingly to our faith. May the persecution we face be, not because of our wrongdoing, but the pressure and difficulty of walking in faith and trusting in God in a world that is hell-bent against him.