Happy Friday! We made it through another week, thank you Jesus. Today we will finish 1 Peter chapter 4. Enjoy knowing the faithfulness of the Lord never changes. May His faithfulness be displayed in your life today. Have a wonderful day and a good weekend.

“¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. ¹³ Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

¹⁴ If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God^[e] rests upon you.^[f] 15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. ¹⁶ But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! ¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? ¹⁸ And also,

“If the righteous are barely saved,
    what will happen to godless sinners?”^[g]

¹⁹ So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.” – 1 Peter 4:12-19 NLT

In the book of 1 Peter, Peter wanted to encourage brothers and sisters in the faith to continue in their faith in spite of the vicious persecution of Christians in Asia Minor. He was preparing them for the times when being a Christian meant possibly loosing their lives. Today, Christians are still being persecuted around the world, they are being slandered for their beliefs and false witnesses who claim that they are Christians make it difficult for people who are truly living their lives as Christians, not just bearing the name as a label but are truly living and making every attempt to align their lives to the word of God.

While these verses speak for themselves, I will highlight the ones that I plan to meditate on today.

• But it is no shame for suffering for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name. v.16
• If you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right. v.19
• Trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you. v.19

Sisters and brothers, I don’t know what you are going through today, maybe you are suffering as a Christian, struggling with an issue that is beyond your control, the loss of a loved one, broken relationships, job issues, financial struggles, family problems, your health or the health of someone you love, I want you to know that you are not alone. Whatever it is God knows and He is with you and he will never fail you. The storm that you are walking through will not last always. The Lord will lift you out and calm the storm that is raging around you. Hang in there and trust Him to deliver you. May I also be bold enough to encourage you today to find a place of peace (for at least one minute) and quietly pray. If you are too overwhelmed to pray, just call on the name of the Lord – say Lord, you know, help me. Surrender your pain to the Lord, allow His peace to flow in you, and know that your sisters and brothers in the faith are praying for you.

For those of you who are not suffering a trial right now, praise God. May God equip you during this time for things that may be ahead, may you find rest and comfort in Him as you sing His praises for a glorious day without trials or concerns. May your joy in the Lord overflow from your heart and be shared with those around you (people you know or don’t know). Encourage your sisters and brothers in the faith who need prayer, who need someone to sit with them in silence, who need someone to listen to their story or wipe their tears. Allow God to use you to strengthen and encourage the body of believers.

Finally, “Trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.” (verse 19)

Father God, in the name of Jesus, we ask that you be our strength and peace today. Lord, awaken in us areas that have been dormant and unusable. Lord, we are ready to change our attitude, release our fears and rely on you for all things. Lord, shift our thinking and make us whole as well as complete in you. Lord, help us to see you in the midst of our trials, loss and pain. Help us to depend on you and not stray away from your teaching. Lord, help us to see you in joyful times when everything is going well, so that we can appreciate all the things you have brought us through and delivered us from. Lord, remind us of your grace and mercy, so that our life stories will encourage those around us. Lord, use us as your vessels to share the love of Jesus Christ – the Good News. Lord, if our gift is to teach help us to teach. If our gift is to serve, Lord humble our hearts so that we may serve in your name. Lord, you made us and we trust you did not make a mistake. Lord, guide us as we continue to follow you all of our days. In Jesus name, amen.

Keep praying! Keep trusting! Keep pursuing the Lord!

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