July 19, 2013

1 Peter 4:12-13 — Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Peter is one of my heroes. Big Heart, big foot, big mouth — and yet he became one of the great fathers of the church and a master of patience — so there’s a lot of him in this devotional. Has it been a long week for you? It has for us. We have had some health issues, work has involved some large running around, and some rapid turn round customer needs. What do you do when you get a week like that? Do you bang your head against the wall? Do you kick the cat (or dog)?
There’s a classic Christian position on times like this. It’s

1. Don’t be surprised. In the Book of Job we find, “Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upwards” and “Man that is born of a woman Is of few days, and full of trouble”. And then there are those verses from Peter, above. Those are just a few of the many scriptures that make it clear that in a fallen world, life is tough
2. Don’t try to carry all the load yourself! One of my favorites — Psalm 55:22 “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee”, and 1 Peter 5:7 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time”. These are promises — with conditions but still, promises
3. Don’t forget, People are watching you! The way you behave reflects on the kingdom … Peter again, “Having a good conscience; that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” People will find excuses enough to criticize you — don’t make it easy by the way you handle the tough times.
4. There’s a good reason for everything! Romans 8:28, a verse we should all know — “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Not that everything is good in itself, nor that God chooses every bad thing that happens to us, but God always makes lemonade from all the lemons we get!
5. Be grateful — for everything! 1 Thess. 5:18. — “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Did you get that? Every thing. “What, even the tough stuff?” Yes. In EVERY thing, GIVE THANKS.
6.  Finally, be assured — there is a promise waiting for you — “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might ?p?receive the promise.” — Hebrews 10:36-37 (and Hebrews 9:15 says that promise is an eternal inheritance!)

So there it is — when you have a tough week, don’t be surprised, don’t try to handle it on your own, remember the world is watching, know there’s a good reason for everything, be grateful and know there’s a reward at the end of the road!