Through Suffering, Day 22 Written to us. Read 2 Peter 1:1-2. As we continue on to the second letter that Peter wrote, we find his introduction and these two short verses. Interestingly, we can understand that this book was written to us. Certainly there were other believers at that time who would have received it first, but as we look at the people that he addressed the letter to, we have to recognize that we are included there. We are those who have also found the saving grace of Jesus Christ. We can take what is written in this letter as a message to each and every one of us.…

Through Suffering, Day 21 We all need help sometimes. Read 1 Peter 5:12-14. We have been reading this letter, written by Peter, that is meant for the suffering believers. However, now we learned that it was not just Peter who wrote this letter, Silas also helped. Peter was at a point where he also needed help, and he allowed Silas to be that help for him so that God’s will could still be accomplished. Do we recognize that we need help often? Are we seeking help from others or do we try to do things on our own too often? As we finish this letter, we have seen the way…

Through Suffering, Day 20 Suffering is only for a time. Read 1 Peter 5:10-11. As Peter is coming to the end of this letter, he wants the people to understand and remember the truth about the suffering they are experiencing. Suffering is only for a time. God is still Lord of all and overall. There will come a point when the suffering will end, and God will reward those who have been obedient and faithful to him. Peter wants the people to not lose sight of their hope in who God is and what God has for them. As we go through challenges and difficulties in our life, we must…

Through Suffering, Day 19 Be alert and resist. Read 1 Peter 5:8-9. Be alert and resist. These are active commands that we are expected to follow through on. As Peter has been discussing the suffering that the people are enduring and that they should be giving their anxiety and fears to God, he reminds them that their enemy is still out there looking for them. Their enemy is desiring their destruction. Likewise, our enemy desires our destruction. Satan is constantly prowling around looking for opportunities to cause us to stumble and fall. Are we alert? Do we constantly stay on guard, expecting an attack? Are we resisting the devil in…

Through Suffering, Day 18 Humility and anxiety. Read 1 Peter 5:5-7. I’ve read these verses hundreds of times before, and even memorized them, but I never noticed that verse 7 comes right after verse 6. The Lord is commanding us through Peter to be humble. We are to humble ourselves so that God can raise us up at the proper time. Still, how often the idea of humbling ourselves can make us worried or anxious about how it will turn out. Well, verse 7 says that we are to cast all our anxiety on him. We are to humble ourselves and we can do it without fear because we have…

Through Suffering, Day 16 Praise and continue. Read 1 Peter 4:12-19. Today in the United States we celebrate our Independence Day as a nation. Interestingly, in our reading today in first Peter, we see a group of individuals who did not have religious freedom. They were being persecuted for believing in Christ and following his commands. While we can celebrate our freedom today, we must also understand that those freedoms are constantly attacked. No matter where we are, we can still experience suffering and there are still difficulties and challenges that we face. We must be focused on following God, period. These verses today both speak about the importance of…

Through Suffering, Day 15 Be alert… for prayer. Read 1 Peter 4:7-11. Peter begins a section here where he is sharing the way we should conduct ourselves because the end is near. Jesus had told his disciples that they should be in a state of constant readiness for his return. Peter now shares that same message with these people. One interesting aspect is that they should be sober and alert. Now, one would assume that to be true. However, it’s the reason given in this verse they are to be that way that caught my eye. They are to be sober and alert so they can pray. When we pray,…

Through Suffering, Day 14 Lost people act like lost people. Read 1 Peter 4:1-6. As Peter continues to offer encouragement to the people, we see him reminding the people that those who do not have a relationship with Christ, act like people who do not have a relationship with Christ. We should never expect those who have not come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ to act like anything other than sinners. It should not surprise us. In fact, it should motivate us to the importance of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with them. Still, they will not understand why we do what we do. Our motives…

Through Suffering, Day 13 Purposeful suffering. Read 1 Peter 3:17-22. As Peter is continuing discussing suffering, he brings up the suffering of Christ. You see, Christ himself had experienced tremendous suffering, and that suffering was for a specific ourpose. Christ’s suffering brought about our salvation. When we are experiencing suffering as a result of our obedience to Christ, God has purpose for that suffering. It is never in vain. We are always able to trust that through Christ everything we experience is a result of Christ’s plan to glorify himself through our lives. Suffering is always difficult, but just like Christ, we can trust that God has greater purpose for…