1 Peter 4:12-13 "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."
Let's continue this
week on what it means to be a friend of God.
I asked the Lord this
morning what verse I used yesterday and where I should go today. Well, He said
James 4:12:13. So I went to look it up and found this verse. Yep, I was a bit
perplexed also when I saw that I was in 1 Peter 4:12-13. So, I supposed He did
answer both questions at the same time. James yesterday and verses 12-13 in a
different book. The Lord does act in mysterious ways.....
I heard this from a
friend who heard it from a friend:
There was this person
who went to a mid-week worship service not so long ago rather seething inside
with anger. It looked like it took every effort for them to stay in the service
and not run screaming out the door (ok, maybe not screaming - that would be even
more noticeable than the scowl on their face).
The music started
playing and the singing started and this person just sat there until they had a
thought pass through like a banner in their mind, 'Ok, it's not God's fault - so
I might as well worship Him'. They got up and started to worship - at first
rather grudgingly. Then this song was sung about surrendering to the Lord and
raising hands as a sign of this surrendering. Obviously, this person did NOT
want to raise their hands, they were open - that was enough. But soon
they started to rise like an unseen force was gently lifting them up.
As related to me from
this friend, as this person's hands were up and open, they saw Jesus come and
stand before them. He raised His hands and placed them palm to palm with this
person and looked them in the eye. He is being reported to say, 'You are
sharing in my sufferings.' As this person continued to look into His eyes, they
saw that He had suffered everything that they had suffered at the time it
happened - and now what they were going through was what He suffered for them at
that time. It was still their pain, their terror, their confusion, etc. But
somehow Jesus was showing them that He knew EXACTLY what they were going
through... and that they could go through it because He had already been there.
He would walk with them and be there as a best friend who really knew everything
about them and loved them anyway. Friends share burdens - sometimes, even
bearing part of the load in prayer, in deed, etc. Sometimes it's just in being
there - even in silence. Sometimes, it's getting dirty and in the thick of
their battle, but a friend stands beside a friend (especially a Best
Friend).
Now I know,
traditionally, these verses have dealt with suffering for being a Christian. My
mind automatically goes to those who are persecuted physically, even to
death. In a way, I'm talking about the same thing. The enemy of our souls, the
devil, satan, he wants us to think that once we become a Christian everything is
all rosey from here on out... while Jesus is saying, 'don't be surprised at
fiery ordeals'. Some of us have been in very fiery ordeals in the past and are
just now dealing with them - so, our past fiery ordeals have become present so
that God can let His healing waters flow into them. Some of us are in fiery
ordeals right now - some due to our own sin, some due to the sin of others, some
we may just never know why - but Jesus is saying to us today, 'You are sharing
in MY sufferings. Take heart, My Glory WILL be revealed in you - and you WILL
be overcome with joy.'
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