1 PETER 4:12-13

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

TO PONDER

Some of the people the Apostle Peter was writing to were experiencing various levels of persecution because they identified as Christians. This persecution ranged from being mocked for their beliefs and lifestyle, experiencing isolation from family and society, and being subjected to unfair treatment or punishment. To some extent, the “problem” the Christians presented to the society of the time was their different life style; instead of living selfishly for themselves, at the expense of others, they lived out the love and acceptance they received from Jesus: sacrificial love and acceptance of one another, ignoring ethnical, political and social boundaries.

We all need love and acceptance. It is critical to our development as children. As we grow up and become independent of our parents, we find groups in which we are accepted and confirmed in our beliefs and attitudes. If we cannot find these groups where we naturally fit in, we will be pressured (or we will pressure ourselves) to change so that we do fit in. If our group is focused on a selfish and self-centred lifestyle, we will be welcoming confirmation from within our group that our selfish attitudes are valid.

If, on the other hand, our group is Christ centred, we will find encouragement to be very sensitive to the needs of others and extend Christ’s self-sacrificing love to them. It will probably be evident that we are motivated by Christ’s will and purpose for us. This can have one of two impacts on people outside our group. They may be attracted to the group so that they too can experience this love and acceptance first from the Christians and then, as they learn more about Christ, experience the love, acceptance and healing that Christ offers.

On the other hand, they may be threatened by what they see practiced by the Christians since it shows up that their selfish lifestyle only has benefit for themselves and doesn’t give them the affirmation they are seeking. They may feel so threatened that they actively try to disrupt the Christians, leading to the persecutions we mentioned above.

So, as Peter wrote, we should not be surprised when persecutions, at some level, come our way because we live the love Christ has empowered us to live. But we are not alone in dealing with these attacks on us. As we are reminded over and over again in our devotions this week, God is with us through the Holy Spirit living in us to keep our focus on His plans and purposes for us. As we focus on God’s plans and purposes for us, through talking to and listening to the Holy Spirit, we will be lifted above the negativity to experience the joy of being involved in what God is doing in and around us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit living in us to “brand” us as Your children. Please help us not to feel discouraged or threatened when we are rejected by others for living Your love in our lives, but instead to experience the joy of being a member of Your family. Amen

Today's devotion written by Charles Bertelsmeier, LIfeWay Epping