If they did it to me, they'll do it to you...

"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." 

1 Peter 4:12-13

Source

Peter writes this letter to encourage Christians in Asia-Minor who are struggling under the weight of persecution. But it applies just as much to persecution as it does to any struggles we face as aliens and strangers of this world and children of God.

Peter tells them of three main things:

1. As Christians, you can expect to suffer.

That's it, you heard me right. If you are a Christian, you will suffer. Your suffering may be in different forms and in varying degrees but I can pretty much guarantee that if you live long enough as a Christian, your walk will include suffering. Why? Don't take my word for it. Remember some of Jesus' words before His death: "A servant is not greater than His master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute me also." And earlier on, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." The world hated Jesus. The world mocked him, tortured him and put him to death. As Christians in 2012, our world is not yet brought under Jesus' rule. Until the day that he returns, we can expect to suffer. This includes persecution and mocking all the way to diseases and sicknesses from the effect that sin has had on this world. 

2. Your suffering will test you

Has anyone ever seen that episode of Friends, where Rachel gives birth to Emma. As she waits in her share-room for her 10cm dilation, she finds every other woman that walks into her room going into labour before her. One such woman is an Asian woman (I forget what her name was). As Rachel is struggling through the pain of her contraction, this woman gets a contraction too. Only hers lasts about a second, causes her to frown a little and then bounce back to normal. As you can imagine, Rachel is furious. 

Sometimes, I think we are a little bit like the Asian woman. We're okay with suffering, as long as it doesn't hurt. Well friends, suffering that doesn't hurt, that doesn't test us & stretch us is no suffering at all. That's like talking about a vegetarian lion or a unisex human - it's just impossible. 

The good news is that while suffering will test us, God promises us two things:

• He will never abandon us through it. In fact, he won't ever leave our side.
• Our suffering will refine us, not destroy us, because nothing can separate us from our God.

3. When you suffer, you are sharing in Christ's sufferings. Thus, when he is rewarded you will share in his rewards. 

Since we are God's children & co-heirs with Christ and since He lives in us, when we suffer, we share in Christ's sufferings. We don't minimise them but we experience something of what Christ suffered & are able to show others something of what Christ suffered for them on the cross. But it doesn't end there, when Christ is rewarded, when all things come under his feet, when he resurrects all his people to live with him forever, we share in his glory too. We share in his reward of eternal life & we share in God's love for us through him. 

So, the next time things get hard, remind yourself of this:

1. Suffering is not unexpected. In fact, it is the norm

2. Suffering is going to hurt & test you

3. Your suffering is part of Christ's suffering. When you are in agony or feel ignored in your suffering, when no one listens to your pain, when you're overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, know that Jesus suffered as you did (& more) and you wear a badge of honour from your Saviour himself to show that you share in His sufferings. If the goal is to be more like Christ until we are carried on to completion, then today's struggle is definitely one more step in the right direction.