Prepare For The Worst.

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. – 1Pet. 4:14 NIV

Prepare For The Worst_24012020

Please click the link above to download the full text of this Ministration.

The Christians in the Northern part of Asia were experiencing their own share of what has now become a norm for Christians at that time in history. It had seemed like there was a prize for who could persecute the highest number of Christians as it had become a normal phenomenon in their world and it was the responsibility of Simon Peter, the disciple of Jesus Christ to encourage the Christians in that part of the world to persevere through the experience.

 

Having used the first three chapters of his first letter to acknowledge the Grace on the Christians in that part of the world and giving some guidelines as to how to maintain a holy lifestyle, he started the fourth chapter with the advise to them to arm themselves with the expectation of suffering since Jesus Christ himself suffered in the body, adding that whoever suffers in the body for the faith is already free from sin (1Jn. 4:1) and such should resolve to spend the rest of their lives living for God rather than lusting after material desires.

 

Their resolve to reject the worldly approach and lifestyles will always bring them in direct confrontation with the people of the world who see their own lifestyle as the way to go, and so despise the Christian for not joining them in making similar choice to tow a path which they used to operate in, before accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, and which they have now rejected. The repercussion of this decision is what manifests in the persecution that they now experience, Simon Peter explained. He further encouraged them to remain in their decision as the world is fast coming to an end and so they should remain alert and of sober mind so they will be able to pray through it – 1Jn. 4:7.

 

Addressing them as friends, he advised them not to be afraid of the fiery ordeal that has come on them, which seems like something strange is happening to them. If anything, they should be full of joy that they are participating in the sufferings of Christ so that they can be overjoyed when his glory is revealed – 1Pet. 4:12-13. He then went on, in the scripture that is the foundation of today’s devotion, to let them know how much of a blessing it is for them when they are insulted in the name of Christ as that insult brings the spirit of glory and of God on them. What an unusual path to being blessed with the Spirit of glory and of God.

 

To be insulted will mean to be treated or spoken to in a  disrespectful manner or to be scornfully abused. That is the treatment that Simon Peter says the Christian should be happy to experience as it is a path to being blessed with the Spirit of glory and of God. The one that has chosen to live the Christian lifestyle should then prepare for the worst of treatments, and to think that this is a decision that was taken voluntarily, it seems like a personal invitation to be humiliated but then this is not just about the blessing of the Lord that comes with such treatment but the assurance of salvation that the decision brings. Salvation from the great tribulation that awaits all those who have not taken this great decision. Nothing! Absolutely nothing can be too much a sacrifice to pay for an assured life of peace and comfort after this existence, which going by all evidence will surely come to an end.

 

There is however a caveat to receiving this blessing through this route and which is the reason for the suffering. According to Simon Peter, the suffering  that will be so rewarded is the one that one experiences because of acts that were done to enhance and propagate Jesus Christ, as experiencing suffering  as a result of being a murderer, thief, criminal or a meddler will not qualify one for this blessing – 1Jn. 4:15.

 

These four above mentioned acts may be physical but can also be very spiritual as a murderer may not physically take someone’s life but may have rendered the person dead while still alive with acts of gossiping, back-biting and character assassination. A thief also may not have stolen material things but may be enjoying an advantage that by right should not be his/hers. Of course, a criminal or a meddler should expect to suffer if caught, after all criminal acts are not only punishable by laws of men but also by God whilst the one interfering in situations that he/she has not been invited into should expect merited insult.  Suffering in situations like these will definitely not be rewarded in the manner described by Simon Peter.

 

Be prepared to pay any price to defend your decision to accept Christ as Lord and Savior and have no regrets whatsoever for taking such a decision. If anything, give praise to God for being so positioned because judgement will start with the household of God (1Pet. 4:18) and if it will be difficult for personal  righteousness to save anyone, then it remains the wisest decision to lean on the one who will provide salvation, not by righteous works but by conferred righteousness that comes through the Grace of accepting him as Lord and Saviour – 1Jn. 4:17-18; Rom. 1:17. May God grant us the strength to weather the storm of persecution and suffering as Christians so we can be found worthy to be saved on the last day in Jesus name. Amen.

Total Page Visits: 720 - Today Page Visits: 3

admin

5 thoughts on “Prepare For The Worst.

  1. I in addition to my friends have been viewing the excellent tips and tricks found on your site and so unexpectedly I had a horrible feeling I never expressed respect to the site owner for those techniques. All the men became consequently glad to study all of them and now have in reality been taking pleasure in those things. Appreciate your being simply kind and also for having this sort of incredibly good subject areas millions of individuals are really desirous to be aware of. My personal honest apologies for not expressing appreciation to sooner.

  2. I must express appreciation to this writer just for rescuing me from this type of trouble. As a result of researching through the the web and getting suggestions which are not helpful, I was thinking my life was over. Existing minus the strategies to the problems you have solved all through your entire article content is a crucial case, as well as ones which could have in a wrong way damaged my career if I had not encountered your site. Your main ability and kindness in taking care of all things was helpful. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t discovered such a step like this. I’m able to at this moment relish my future. Thanks for your time very much for this skilled and results-oriented guide. I won’t be reluctant to recommend your web sites to any individual who needs guidance about this matter.

  3. I wish to show my appreciation to the writer for bailing me out of this problem. As a result of scouting throughout the online world and coming across ways which are not productive, I assumed my entire life was over. Being alive without the presence of solutions to the problems you have sorted out by way of your good guideline is a serious case, and those which might have in a wrong way damaged my entire career if I hadn’t encountered your web page. The expertise and kindness in maneuvering a lot of things was tremendous. I am not sure what I would’ve done if I had not encountered such a solution like this. I can now relish my future. Thanks very much for the specialized and results-oriented help. I will not hesitate to refer your web site to anybody who wants and needs assistance about this problem.

  4. I want to show my appreciation to the writer for rescuing me from such a crisis. After exploring throughout the world-wide-web and finding suggestions which are not productive, I believed my entire life was done. Existing devoid of the approaches to the difficulties you have fixed all through the short article is a crucial case, and those which might have in a wrong way affected my career if I had not encountered your web site. Your personal skills and kindness in controlling all the pieces was vital. I am not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t come across such a thing like this. It’s possible to now relish my future. Thanks for your time very much for your impressive and effective help. I will not hesitate to refer your blog to any person who should receive tips about this problem.

  5. I in addition to my buddies appeared to be taking note of the excellent guidelines found on the website and instantly developed a horrible suspicion I never thanked the blog owner for those tips. The ladies had been as a consequence joyful to read all of them and have now actually been loving these things. We appreciate you indeed being indeed considerate and for deciding on these kinds of wonderful themes millions of individuals are really eager to understand about. My personal sincere regret for not expressing appreciation to you sooner.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top
error

Enjoy this article? Please spread the word :)

Follow by Email
Instagram

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Please subscribe to receive more of our new publication.

Stay blessed.

You have successfully subscribed to the newsletter

There was an error while trying to send your request. Please try again.

Cross and Crown Christian Ministry will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.