Just Suffering

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” 1 Peter 3v17 (NIV)

“For [it is] better to suffer [unjustly] for doing right, if that should be God’s will, than to suffer [justly] for doing wrong.” 1 Peter 3v17 (AMP)

The Bible here gives the comparison between suffering for doing right on the one hand, and for doing evil on the other. 1 Peter 2v19-21 (NIV) tells us that “For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” Beloved, are you suffering for righteousness sake, and perhaps thinking why me, or of giving up? Philippians 1v29 (NIV) says “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,” while 2 Timothy 3v12 (KJV) explains that “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” In fact, Acts 5v41 (KJV) shows the reaction of the apostles after they were beaten and commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus being that “… they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” But there is grace for all our tribulations. 2 Corinthians 12v9-11 (NLT) says “Each time He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” When we are weak, and in trouble, and suffering insults for the sake of Christ, His strength is made perfect through us. And it is better to be suffering for good, than to be suffer for evil in this world and that which is to come. May our prayer be like Paul, who said:

Supplementary Text and Prayer

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.” Philippians 3v7-10 (KJV)