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1 Peter 4:12-13
12 Beloved [agapetos], think it [xenizo] not [me] strange [xenizo] concerning the [humin] fiery trial [purosis] which [en] is [ginomai] to [pros] try [peirasmos] you [humin], as [hos] though some strange thing [xenos] happened [sumbaino] unto you [humin]:
13 But [alla] rejoice [chairo], inasmuch as [katho] ye are partakers [koinoneo] of Christ's [Christos] sufferings [pathema]; that [hina], when [en] his [autos] glory [doxa] shall be revealed [apokalupsis], ye may be glad [chairo] also [kai] with exceeding joy [agalliao]. KJV-Interlinear
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. NASB
From the moment that you were born into this world, life has been one trial after another. Whether you were aware of it or not, is irrelevant, because the world represents the jungle environment in which we live.
You may have been born with a silver spoon or a wooden spoon, and that too is irrelevant. Life in this world is the same for everyone, whether privileged or not.
We all face the same obligations in life, and we all face the same tests that the world will throw at us. The only difference is, in the resources each of us has with which to deal with life’s trials.
The trials of life, are described here as fiery ordeals. This is not a reference to the burning of Christians in Rome, which did not even begin for several decades after Peter wrote this.
The fiery ordeals consist of everything that becomes a test of ones faith or spiritual strength. For some it may be a broken fingernail, for others it may be a ravaging cancer, or as a victim of some type of violence.
We all have trials of one sort or another. Most of us have financial problems, or employment related problems, or social problems of one type or another.
The Bible classifies the sources of problems that you will face, in four general categories – from your own thoughts, from other people, from systems (bureaucracies, government), or from natural or environmentally occurring disasters (weather, earthquake, genetic, cancers, accidents, etc.).
Each of these can cause you to fail in your spiritual life, and you will be hammered by each and every one of these sources of trouble, throughout your entire life.
One of the biggest difficulties that people have, is in not knowing what to do, or in doing nothing.
Prayer is good, but the spiritual life is intended to be a proactive life, not a passive life. Need medical attention? Pray certainly, but God has already answered your prayers. He has provided doctors, hospitals, bandaids and so forth. Use them.
Need a job? God has provided a job for you, but you have to answer ads, fill out applications, and go looking for it.
God has given us all an economic system with which to earn a living, an educational system with which to learn a trade, a medical system with which to get well, an agricultural system with which to feed ourselves, etc., etc., etc.
As a believer in Christ, as a human being in this devils world, you will face suffering in many ways. And because this is the devils world, you can count on it. And because the vast majority of the human race subscribes to non-biblical beliefs, the sources for trouble increase, all the more.
So do not be surprised, when the weather fails, when economies fail, when trouble invades your life. You do not have to be responsible for the trouble to become its victim. In fact most trouble will come to you, without your invitation.
You just should not participate in the worldly systems that produce trouble, so as to become a part of the cause of your troubles. Don’t get involved in bad politics, criminal activities, social dysfunctions, etc.
And certainly when trouble enters into your life, do not go crying, ‘Why me? What have I done to deserve this? God is punishing me for something I did thirty years ago! Not fair!’
And the world is not going to be fair, ever. The world intends to make your life either miserable or phenomenally prosperous, in order to get you away from God, Christ, doctrine, and especially your spiritual life.
Distractions come from all sides. The only way that you can stay ahead of them, is to pursue your daily spiritual life, and grow up.
Jesus Christ controls history, not Satan, not man, not the weather. God has a plan for your life, but that plan does not function as intended unless you are advancing in your spiritual life.
In Gods plan, you cannot fail and the world cannot defeat you. You will still face trouble, and you will still suffer, but all suffering, when you are advancing in your spiritual life, is suffering for Christ.
Use it to focus on Him, rather than on your own selfpity. Use it to help you advance in your spiritual life. Use it to your advantage, and then when you finally face Christ, you will become the recipient of the highest of honors imaginable.
