Reading Plan:  

1 Peter 3:8-22 

Righteousness through Suffering 

Author: Austin Sines 

Today's reading hits on a topic that every single one of us has experienced, will experience, or is currently experiencing. Suffering isn't fun, but I'm so incredibly thankful that I ended up writing about this passage because it has helped me better understand God's purpose in the suffering. My prayer is that this devotion gives you a better understanding and a clearer perspective as well. The verse I want to focus on here is 1 Peter 3:14. This verse puts God's will above anything else, including suffering for doing what is right, but I want to explore the blessing that comes through the suffering. The first thing we need to do is figure out what suffering is and its purpose. 

No one likes to suffer. But suffering is especially hard to handle when it seems like you've done everything right and you suffer anyway. When this happens, we might find ourselves questioning God, maybe doubting our faith, and ultimately being upset and frustrated. Peter offers us a different perspective through this passage. The truth is, the idea of thinking we aren't going to suffer because we are centered in God's will just simply isn't biblical. Sacrifice is grounded in the example of Jesus Christ himself. Please take to heart that there is a purpose for everything we come across in life, including our sufferings. Romans 5:3-4 says "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that the suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

God uses our suffering for development. 

It can be very easy to disagree with this statement without Peter's perspective, but let me explain. The blessing that comes from suffering that Peter is talking about is development or growth. The blessing is the suffering. Stay with me, I promise I'm sane. Without the opportunity to see our weaknesses, we would never truly understand and depend on God's strengths. If we never have a dependence on God, our faith won't grow. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Knowing our weaknesses allows us to rest in God's strengths and grace. Having that reliance apparent to us and in the forefront of our minds allows us to develop according to His will. 

As I'm typing this, I feel like I'm not being as clear as I want to be, so I'm going to use one of my favorite analogies. (I apologize if you go to the Latimer House Church on the coast because I know you've heard this illustration a hundred times.) I watched this show called "Forged in Fire". It's a show about forging metal swords. The process is quite intense and takes a lot of work. Before the metal is sculpted into the shape of a sword, it must first be purified. The blacksmith does this to get the strongest, purest metal needed to forge the sword. First, the blacksmith puts the metal bars into a furnace. During this time, the metal is undergoing extreme heat and pressure. In doing this, the metal is being purified. All of the impurities float to the top, and the blacksmith scoops them out. After the metal cools, what's left is a strong metal bar with no imperfection. The blacksmith with the best purification method will have the strongest sword. If the blacksmith represents God in this metaphor, we are the metal. God uses the pressure or our suffering to purify us. This develops us and gives us the strength to run the race of life with endurance fueled by faith in Him. This is the blessing Peter is referring to - to be brought to a place where we see how weak we are and to be reminded how much you and I need God in our lives. Without suffering, we wouldn't develop, our faith would grow weak, and we would be lost. Suffering isn't a curse, it's a blessing. It's an opportunity to be vulnerable in our weakness and to be strengthened by our loving Father through our faith in Him. 

I don't know what you're going through. Maybe life seems unfair. I know that having a perspective like Peter's isn't the easiest thing to do, but it's life-changing. I challenge you to pause and reflect. Reflect on your sufferings, and look for opportunities. Pray to God to ease your pain, and thank Him for how He is strengthening you. Be vulnerable and honest with yourself, your family, and God. You are loved. 

Reflection: 

• Instead of asking you to take 5 minutes to pause and reflect, I'm going to challenge you to do something different. I'm asking you to start a new rhythm in your life. I've been doing this for a week now and it has given me a Peter-like perspective. When you wake up in the morning before your feet hit the floor, stop, pray, and thank God for everything - and I mean everything. Thank Him for the good times and bad times. We do this because we don't deserve His unfailing grace, but His love for us is so strong that our Creator sacrificed for us so that we can be reunited with Him. This thankfulness will go with you the rest of your day. 
• Prayer: God, we thank You for everything. Though we don't deserve it, you have given us everlasting life, the living water that we need to truly live. This world can be tough and the culture we live in makes it hard to follow You. We pray that You break the stronghold that this culture has established in our lives and that Your love overflows in us. You alone, God, can restore us. Even through the suffering, You are with us. I pray that we see the development occur in us through the suffering and that our faith in You is strengthened because of it. 

HAVE KIDS? 

Use the content below to dive deeper into the Bible Reading Plan with your family.  

Family Application: Be Prepared 

Author: Nichole McCardle

• Our Bible Reading Plan continues in 1 Peter chapter 3 today. Peter continues to instruct the Church on Godly ways of living. The verse we will focus on today is 1 Peter 3:15. Here, Peter tells us to always be prepared to tell others about the hope that is found in Jesus. When you are preparing for a test, what do you do? You study! When you are preparing for a baseball game, what do you do? You practice! When you are preparing for a trip, what do you do? You pack! Just like being prepared for all of those situations, we should prepare ourselves for times when our friends have questions about Jesus. We can do that by reading and studying the Bible, being ready to tell them that Jesus loves them so much, and kindly explaining Jesus's love.
• Can you remember who first told you about Jesus? Aren't you so glad that they told you the best news ever? Who is someone you can share the news of Jesus' love with?
• One way to be prepared to talk about Jesus to your friends is to remember some of the great things He has done for you. List 3 things that Jesus has done for you.
• Prayer: God, You are awesome! Thank You for all the amazing things You have done for me! God, prepare me to tell everyone about how wonderful You are. Amen.