Scripture to Read: 1 Peter 4:13
Continuing our walk through 1 Peter 4:12–19, we find God taking us to a whole new level when it comes to our reaction to our tests, trials, and persecution in this life. We are to react differently because of our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. As we read 1 Peter 4:13, God tells us to rejoice in our sufferings because we’re sharing in the sufferings of Christ. Most of us normally do not have “rejoicing” on our minds or lips when we’re walking through persecutions, tribulations, trials, or tests. Instead, we usually call out to God, asking Him for a quick deliverance or a much easier time. When God had Peter first write this letter, the Christians in Peter’s day faced incredibly fierce persecution. Christians were being crucified, burned at the stake, thrown into prison, and many other tribulations because they followed our Lord Jesus Christ. So, consider that God told them to “keep on rejoicing,” which seems so abnormal. But, when we take into account all that God has given us through our Lord Jesus Christ, we have an enormous amount of reasons to “keep on rejoicing” even during very hard times. The other reason we rejoice continually is that we are going to get to see the fullness of Christ’s glory when He is fully shown to all the world. Choosing to rejoice in this life, and especially in the tests and trials, is an act of our will. We can’t wait for our feelings to rejoice; we must choose to rejoice even when we don’t feel like it.
Challenge & Application
· When you go through tests, trials, persecutions, etc…is your first reaction to rejoice, complain, or call out to God for relief? Why?
· How can you get to the point of choosing to continually rejoice when you face the tough times in this life?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!