1 Peter 4:16
If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
The author, Apostle Peter, began as a fisherman before being hand-picked by Jesus to be His disciple. Even after being around his Rabbi for three years and professing his loyalty, Peter denied the Messiah three times. Jesus never resented or gave up on him for that. Moreover, after His resurrection, Jesus embraced Him again as His disciple.
Despite Peter’s natural leadership skills, he needed the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to serve as an effective disciple. Once anointed with the Holy Spirit, he became bold in his faith. Peter preached to more than three thousand people (Acts 2:40) and testified to the rulers and elders of the people numerous times (Acts 4:8). He faced flogging, imprisonment, changed the lives of the Centurion and his family (Acts 10), and ultimately was martyred for his faith.
Inspired by Peter’s example, let us not grow weary of God even when we face persecution as Christians. Due to our unwavering faith, our families, friends, and peers may betray or abandon us. We may feel it’s easy to deny our faith, like Peter, and escape the suffering.
Peter suffered as a Christian, yet everything in his life glorified God. He understood that our lives are like grass and our glory like the flowers of the field. All our achievements in life without God pale in comparison to a life lived according to God’s purpose. Such a life may involve suffering, but our God walks with us through it all. As we glorify God through our sufferings, the good news is preached to all. So, soldier, keep marching on!
