Rejoice When Suffering
Introduction
We are called to suffer for Jesus when we live as God’s people in the world. When we confront the world, when we are holy, when we stand up and speak out we will experience suffering. We are engaged in a war, and like any other war, this spiritual war brings about suffering. Suffering is an integral part of our calling and mission as God’s people.
This should not surprise us. Jesus tells us that the world will hate us, persecute us, insult us, falsely say all kinds of evil against us (Mt 5:10-12; 10:22; Jn 15:18-21). But then Jesus said that we are blessed when we suffer because of him because the kingdom of heaven is ours. We should rejoice and be glad because our reward is great in heaven.
Blessed? Rejoice and be glad? That’s a tough one. It hurts when your friends tease you, reject you because you follow Jesus. It’s painful when you lose your job, your boy/girlfriend because of Jesus. It’s agonizing suffering when your child or a parent denounces or disowns you because of Jesus.
We have a Mongolian friend. She became a follower of Jesus when she was in high school. Her father forbade her to be a Christian and to go to church. Yet Sunday after Sunday she would slip out of the house, and go to church. And Sunday after Sunday her father would beat her when she came back from church. In her senior year just before graduation her father gave her one last chance to denounce Jesus. She refused. He disowned her, gave her college money to her siblings, and chased her out of the house. And yet she is filled with joy in the midst of this suffering.
Why and how should we rejoice when we suffer?
1. Rejoice Because the Kingdom of Heaven is Ours
We rejoice because because the kingdom of heaven is ours. We rejoice because great is our reward in heaven.
1 Peter 1:3-9 — “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire —may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Jesus Christ is alive! And because of Jesus God gave us a glorious inheritance. This inheritance is the new life we have now in Christ. This inheritance is the salvation of our souls, eternal life. This inheritance is the kingdom of heaven. We are now kingdom citizens, the family, the people of God.
The kingdom of heaven has already come in Jesus Christ. The kingdom of heaven is seen in this world where and when God’s people live under the rule of God as God’s people, live holy lives. The kingdom of heaven is visible in every life that is changed because of Jesus. Every act of love, however small, shows the kingdom of heaven. And one day we will see and experience this kingdom in its full glory. We will live forever in God’s presence, in his kingdom of perfect peace and love.
So in all this we rejoice, even in the midst of suffering, because we know that what we are going through now is only temporary. It is bearable because it is nothing compared with the glory that awaits us.
2. Rejoice Because Our Faith is Real!
We rejoice because we know that our faith is authentic, genuine. Suffering for Jesus proves that we are true followers of Jesus, children of God. When we follow the ways of the world, when we love the things of the world, the world will not hate us and persecute us. Suffering shows us that we are on the right path living according to God’s will.
Suffering tests, purifies and strengthens our faith. Every time when the world hates us, persecutes and insults us, we have a choice. We can give up and join the world. Or we can believe in Jesus, love Jesus, even though we haven’t seen him. We have this living hope because Jesus is alive! “Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God” (1 Pet 1:21). We choose to believe, to hope, to love, and to rejoice in our suffering. And so our faith is strengthened. Our love for Jesus is confirmed. We are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy because we know that our we are receiving the end result of our faith, the salvation of our souls. We know that the world can kill our bodies, but not our souls.
3. Rejoice by revering Christ as Lord
1 Peter 3:14-15 — “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.” Revere Christ as Lord.
We acknowledge, honor, worship Jesus as the Holy One, as the true, living God, as the Lord. As his followers, we must reflect his holiness. “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” (1 Pet 1:15-17). We revere Christ as Lord when we live for the will of God (1 Pet 4:2), and live according to God (1 Pet 4:6).
Revering Jesus as Lord gives us courage to face the suffering, because we know that he is Lord, the sovereign Lord, that he already won the victory. We know how this story ends!
4. Rejoice by Following Jesus’ Example
We rejoice in suffering by following Jesus’ example. // “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Pet 2:21). “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin” (1 Pet 4:1).
When we follow Jesus, we die to self, take up our crosses daily, crucify ourselves with Christ. Dying to self involves suffering. When we put to death our sinful selves, our ego’s, when we destroy the idols in our lives, when we break away from sinful habits, from the things and ways of the world, it hurts.
This happens daily as we take up our crosses and follow Jesus. The outcome of this suffering is that we are dead to sin (Rom 6:2), and we now live for the will of God. // “As a result they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spend enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you” (1 Pet 4:2-4).
We follow Jesus’ example by arming ourselves with the same attitude. We strengthen ourselves with the same way of thinking as Jesus. We look at the world, at people, at everything through the eyes of Jesus. What is this attitude, this way of thinking? Love others like Jesus loves them. Being willing to suffer for others. Do not retaliate or take revenge. (1 Pet 2:23; 3:9-12)
5. Rejoice by Praying, Loving, and Serving
1 Pet 4:7-11: “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” Pray — Prayer is powerful. Prayer sustains us. Prayer strengthens us. Prayer gives us courage. Prayer encourages. Prayer grows us. Therefore, when we suffer, turn to God in prayer. Give thanks, praise Him, and rejoice.
Love — “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” Love intensely, deeply and without ceasing, constantly — persevere in love.
Serve — “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” We must continue to use our God-given gifts to serve others. Not for ourselves, but for God’s glory.
Close with this reading — 1 Pet 4:12-19: “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. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 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. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, ‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’ So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”
When we suffer we rejoice because we are blessed. We are blessed because the Holy Spirit is with us. We are blessed because we know our faith is real. We are blessed because when we share in his sufferings we will also share in his glory (Rom 8:17). We are blessed because when we died with him, we will also live with him; and when we endure, we will also reign with him (2 Tim 2:11-12) in the kingdom of heaven.
When we suffer, believe in Jesus Christ as Lord. Keep our hope alive. Trust in God. Pray, love and serve. Revere Christ as Lord, commit ourselves to our faithful Creator God, and continue to do good. That is how we rejoice in suffering.