1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
All people suffer, but not all participate in the sufferings of Christ. To qualify for this, we must bear up under trials that come our way because we have chosen the way of holiness. We live in the likeness of Christ who suffered for us, even though He was innocent and we are guilty. He chose the way of holiness in love, remaining free from sin. To participate in this suffering, we must walk in the light of Christ. We should rejoice in the opportunity to share in this suffering, realizing that it will qualify us to participate in the glory of Jesus’ coming again. This is a deep thought, not easily understood, nor is it easy to live out. By nature, we want to do the opposite. When the heat comes, we back away. When the trials and persecution come, we compromise. Peter learned a difficult personal lesson about this the night of Jesus’ arrest. Peter denied Jesus three times when the trial came to him. Peter does not want his readers to experience the same shame, especially when Jesus comes again. We do not want to hear, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”
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