“IF YOU SHOULD SUFFER!”

1 Peter 3:13-17                                      (ESV)

“13 Now WHO IS THERE TO HARM YOU IF YOU ARE ZEALOUS FOR WHAT IS GOOD?

14 But even “IF YOU SHOULD SUFFER” for RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE, YOU WILL BE BLESSED. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

15 but in your hearts honor CHRIST the LORD as Holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with GENTLENESS and RESPECT,

16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in CHRIST may be put to shame.

17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be GOD’S will, than for doing evil.”

Living a life representing JESUS WILL BE DIFFICULT!  We are promised a bed of roses if we place our FAITH IN HIM, rather that we WILL endure persecution (Matthew 10:22) for HIS sake.  People, even people we think are Christians, will be used by the enemy just as Peter, the man who penned this passage of Scripture, was used in Mark 8:33!  

ALL of us are imperfect.  There is NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO NOT ONE (Romans 3:10; Psalms 14:3), so we can stop with the belief that we are better than others!  The only thing that is “different” about me is that GOD SEES my Substitute (2 Corinthians 5:21) when HE judges me and I am pardoned because of CHRIST.  It is because of NOTHING THAT I HAVE DONE (2 Timothy 1:9), but because of HIS OWN PLAN that HE doesn’t SEE how wretched I am!

So “IF YOU SHOULD SUFFER” for RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE, YOU WILL BE BLESSED, according to the Scripture above.  Acts 5:38-41 tells us that the disciples of JESUS were beaten, yet REJOICED that they were counted worthy to SUFFER FOR THE NAME of JESUS.  We have to erase the misconception that SUFFERING is a sign of sinful living and that all Believers will live lives in comfort and no difficulty.  

Just because “IF YOU SHOULD SUFFER” doesn’t mean that we should walk around in sackcloth and ashes.  Difficulties are not meant to do anything but magnify THE LORD!  YOU WILL BE BLESSED does not necessarily indicate that we will gain financially through our struggles, rather that our BLESSINGS may be a longer life or a HEAVENLY REWARD?  Let there be no misunderstanding though, “IF YOU SHOULD SUFFER”,  for righteousness sake, YOU WILL BE BLESSED!!!