Committed

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER OF PETER

COMMITTED

1 Peter 4:12-19

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"   19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

NIV

Another difficult passage that we need help from the Spirit to understand. It appears Peter has his eye on this proverb and expands on it as be begins with, “Dear friends”.  The problem we are having is in the translation of this proverb.  Peter has quoted proverb 11: 31 as if it says that it is hard for a righteous person to be saved and if that is the case what will become of the ungodly and the sinner. In the Hebrew, the proverb reads, “Behold the righteous receive shalom on earth much more the wicked and the sinner”. We cannot be sure this is what Peter was talking about, as it appears he is making this proverb the central theme of his statement about the fact we could suffer for being a Christian, but somehow, to us, we do not see this proverb saying the same thing Peter is saying. Our scholars of old are at odds with each other over the meaning of what Peter is talking about. Some think he is referring to how Rome invades Jerusalem and many Christians are able to escape but the Jews are dealt with by the hands of the Romans. Others want to bring it into our day and speak about how difficult it is for us to remain saved amidst all the temptations of the world. Yet, the fact remains we cannot save ourselves as we are but mankind, and we need Jesus. Still, Peter is making a point that because we are believers, we may well experience some form of suffering, and if we do we should count it a blessing. But was Peter only making this point to the original readers, because Christianity was one of the most difficult choices to live in those days when it was under much persecution? In other parts of the world today believers are being put to trials we have not ever come close to here in our county. They have been burned alive in cages, dragged by their feet behind a speeding truck until their skin was ripped from their bodies, brutal deaths no man should have to endure. However, today we do face a multitude of temptations that, if we are not watchful, could entice us, drag us away, burn within us, until we begin to think we have more to do with our life then God does. We could begin to think we are in charge, that we make all the right choices for our life, the direction we go, setting our path for retirement, financial security, trusting in our abilities, our ways, instead of His ways. We could get caught up in all sorts of temptations that would make it difficult for us to continue to put our trust in Jesus, always questioning if our deeds are good enough, or that if we failed to do enough, would we make it to heaven. The judgment Peter speaks about is whether we trust Jesus for our lives. We will be judged for our faith, do we or do we not believe, but how severe the judgment for those who refuse to have faith in Jesus. Maybe someday we may have to suffer some harsh form of persecution, if so let it be for the sake of Jesus, not because we are wrongdoers. But for now, we need to take our stand against the forces of evil in this dark world, partnering not with them or their ideologies and philosophies, nor their form of religion. We may stand alone in the world, but we stand in heaven with Jesus. Let us not waver. We are committed to our faithful creator.