BE HAPPY AND PRAISE GOD FOR SUFFERING? REALLY?

SCRIPTURE:
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, 
but praise God that you bear that name.  
(1 Peter 4:16)

MEDITATION:
I enjoy playing golf, however it can be confusing at times.
For instance you can hit the ball farther if you swing more relaxed.
That goes against our line of thinking, doesn’t it?
Traditional thought would tell us to grip the club tight, 
flex our muscles, and swing as hard as we can.

Of course golf is for recreation, 
but the things in the Bible are much more important.
The Bible is one of the ways Almighty God communicates with mortal man.
In His Words, we discover the plan for salvation 
and instructions for living as His adopted children.
However, it can be confusing at times.
Do you ever read something in the Bible that is hard to understand?

For instance, we are told that we should be glad whenever we suffer 
as a result our belief in Jesus and our commitment to living for Him.
It doesn’t seem like “being glad” and “suffer” 
should be in the same sentence does it?
I have selected a few scriptures that may help to explain this dichotomy.

We know that when we suffer as Christ did,
we are comforted as He was comforted.
For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,
so also our comfort abounds through Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:5)

When we suffer for our beliefs,
we rejoice at being considered a soldier in the army of Jesus Christ.
Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:3)

When we suffer for our beliefs,
we become more conscious of the presence of God.
For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering
because they are conscious of God. (1 Peter 2:19)

When we suffer for our beliefs,
we are glad because we are considered worthy by God.
But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong 
and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, 
this is commendable before God. (1 Peter 2:20)

When we suffer for our beliefs,
we learn to place our trust in God.
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, 
he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 
(1 Peter 2:23)

When we suffer for our beliefs, we have a new appreciation
for the suffering of Jesus when He went to the cross for our sins.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, 
to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the 
Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18)

When we suffer for our beliefs, 
we develop better attitudes (including our concept of sin).
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the 
same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 
(1 Peter 4:1)

When we suffer for our beliefs, we rejoice that we bear the name of a Christian.
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed,
but praise God that you bear that name. (1 Peter 4:16)

When we suffer for our beliefs, our hearts are changed
and we have a greater commitment to God and for doing good things.
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves
to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (1 Peter 4:19)

When we suffer for our beliefs, we develop a new level of patience and endurance.
I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient
endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the
word of God and the testimony of Jesus. (Revelation 1:9)

We can see from these handful of scriptures that when we suffer for our beliefs,
God uses our experiences to build us up 
and not to bring us down and discourage us.
That gives us reason to be glad and to praise Him!

It is important for us to read "all" of God’s Word in order to better understand
any scriptures that may seem confusing when reading them by themselves.
God is not the author of confusion, so we can be confident
that He will provide clarity for anything we struggle to understand.

There is a problem in America with anemic Christians 
who are unwilling to stand up and be counted on every issue.
God wants Christians who are virile, dynamic, aggressive 
and committed to living as a believer seven days a week. 
Christians who are ethical, honest, gracious, bold, strong, 
and devoted followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

ACTION:
Are you the kind of Christian God wants you to be?
Do you have the right attitude for responding to any suffering for your beliefs?
Are you committed to spending time reading His Word?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word and all that is contained with 
the pages of the Bible. Don’t let me get discouraged and lose interest in
reading the Bible when I fail to understand some scripture. I pray that You 
will instead, generate more interest in me and help to search other scriptures 
to find the answers You have for me. Change my attitude regarding any suffering 
for my belief in Jesus. Give me Your courage, Lord Jesus, to follow You more 
devotedly.”