Fiery trials... To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever

1 Peter 4 and 5

¹² Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. ¹⁴ If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. ¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ Now

¹⁹ Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. 

Submit to God, Resist the Devil

^5 ... Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. ¹⁰ But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. ¹¹ To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Peter certainly gives us a lot to think about in this portion of scripture from the daily reading in the One Year Bible(link available on this site's links page). It begins with an exhortation that we should know and understand that there will be difficulties in this life for followers of Christ. It is important, I think for us to take note here that the difficulties or ordeals as he calls them are the persecutions that come against believers. He is saying that we are partakers in the suffering of Christ. Peter draws the distinction saying, " let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter."  There is a tendency at times for people to attribute all there difficulties to suffering for the Lord. If we suffer consequences of sinful behavior or poor decisions that is not suffering for Christ. These lingering consequences of sin in our lives are also not God's punishment for our sin. God says this about our sins in Isaiah 43:25, "I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins. Surely if He wipes out our sins and does not remember them, He doesn't continue to punish us for what He has taken away. We do, however, live our lives with the consequences of our actions and decisions. 

Peter is talking about something at a whole different level.  For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? As we near the end of this age, the age of grace and the return of Jesus as Lord of lords and King of kings approaches, so will the level of rejection and persecution of Christians. This comes for two reasons, first because, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy...(John 10:10). The devil is fighting a losing battle but he wants to destroy as many people as he can before Jesus returns to establish His eternal kingdom. Secondly this persecution, this rejection that we face serves to refine us. It tests and strengthens our faith and commitment to Christ. Many people today have accepted a gospel that does not include the trials and tribulations we face as believers. Many will fall away in the difficult times that are coming. Jesus describes this type of person in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:  ²⁰ The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹ yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.

 Jesus is returning for His church, His bride. Ephesians 5 tells us of the condition of Christ church when He returns.

Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, ²⁶ so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷ that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 

That's why judgment begins at the house of God. The trials and persecutions, the rejection we suffer as Christians purifies us so that we will be ready for His return.

Let's return then to the first source of these persecutions we will see as we advance toward the time of Christ's return, our enemy, the devil, he is real and he is active in the world today. One of his greatest deceptions is for people to believe he doesn't really exist. We need to be aware of him and of his schemes. We do not need to fear him though because,

1 John 4:4  You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Isaiah 54:17  No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord 

    
 Or as Peter says it "your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." Seeking whom he may devour. I believe I've written this before but it is critical for us to understand that the devil has no power over us if we are in Christ. The devil needs permission to devour us. God will not grant that permission only we can. Peter says we are to resist him and remain steadfast. In James 4:7 it says , Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

I'll finish with Peter's words as my prayer for you.

  may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. ¹¹ To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.