"THINK IT NOT STRANGE!"

1 Peter 4:12-17                      (KJV)
"12 Beloved, "THINK IT NOT STRANGE" concerning the fiery TRIAL which is to try you, as though SOME STRANGE thing happened unto you:
13 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.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of CHRIST, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of GOD resteth upon you: on their part HE is evil spoken of, but on your part HE IS GLORIFIED.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him GLORIFY GOD on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of GOD: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of GOD?"  

There are times in our lives when difficulties are presented in our lives that are not CUT AND DRIED, BLACK OR WHITE, or HOT OR COLD!  These times can cause us to fervently seek direction and guidance from a HOLY GOD.  It is though a huge storm is brewing and we don't have the knowledge or experience to sail through the storm.  We are relegated to HAVING to trust IN HIM, as we are not able to navigate on our own!

The Apostle Peter instructed us to "THINK IT NOT STRANGE" when SOME STRANGE thing happens to us?  How can we "THINK IT NOT STRANGE" when things happen that we cannot explain or find a reason for?  There is an answer for this phenomenon that scripture is very clear about, IF we slow down to grasp the TRUTH!  In Ephesians 6:14 scripture records "For we wrestle not against FLESH and BLOOD, but against PRINCIPALITIES, against POWERS, against the RULERS of the DARKNESS of THIS WORLD, against SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS  wickedness in HIGH PLACES."

The spirit world is not some make-believe, cosmic fantasy land where imaginary battles take place.  There is a constant battle being waged that our physical eyes cannot see.   In 2 Kings 6 Elisha prayed that GOD would "open his eyes that he may see" and GOD answered that prayer.  The things we physically see are not necessarily the REAL ISSUE!  The Spiritual Battle (Ephesians 6:14) is a brutal warfare where there are no rules of engagement.  The enemy (the master of disguise) will camouflage his evilness, even as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:4).

My prayer is that I recognize the enemy when he tries to camouflage himself to drive division and strife into my life.   We must realize that this warfare is bigger than ourselves, it is between good and evil and that the battle is MOST intense where strongholds exist.  The closer we get to The LORD, the more fierce the battle can become!  "THINK IT NOT STRANGE" when a smooth sea turns into a stormy gale!  Apostle Peter said to REJOICE, not being ashamed, and to GLORIFY GOD on this behalf!