October 29, 2013 (Tuesday)
(Last Sunday’s sermon at Bethel Baptist Church, Ingleside, Texas)
“If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name” (1 Peter 4:15-16 NIV).
1. Sometimes we suffer because we do wrong.
Sin has its own built-in punishment. Consequences for bad behavior follow in its wake. God does not prohibit sin because it’s fun but because it’s dangerous and deadly.
2. Sometimes we suffer because we do right
The people to whom Peter was writing were suffering because they were Christians. The Roman Emperor was the Roman god, and demanded to be worshiped, something a Christian’s faith forbade him to do. Because they refused to do wrong, they were persecuted, arrested, jailed, and killed. In today’s world, Christians sometimes suffer harsh consequences of refusing to do illegal or immoral things in the business world or in their personal lives. “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.”
3. Sometimes we suffer and only God knows the reason
One of the great enigmas of life is human suffering when there seems to be no reason. The Book of Job in the Bible deals with this enormous question, “Why do the righteous suffer?” No affirmative answer is given, but we are urged to worship God and keep trusting Him, as Job did. As the song says, “We shall understand it better bye and bye.” When we stand face to face with Jesus, all our questions will dissolve into pure love and joy.
I don’t propose to answer profound questions of faith in a little blog, but perhaps these statements will offer food for thought. May God bless you all.