06/21/2026
Today’s Message
In 1 Peter 4:12-19, the Apostle Peter writes to believers enduring real and painful persecution, and his opening word to them is striking — don't be surprised. Suffering is not a sign that something has gone wrong; it is a sign that you are sharing in the life of Christ. Peter calls his readers to rejoice in that reality, holding onto the promise that those who share in Christ's sufferings will also share in the joy of His revealed glory.
Peter goes on to draw an important distinction: there is a difference between suffering for doing wrong and suffering for bearing the name of Christ. If you are insulted and rejected because of your faith, Peter says you are blessed — the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. That is not a burden to be ashamed of; it is a calling to glorify God in.
Finally, Peter anchors everything in an act of trust. Knowing that judgment begins with the household of God, and that the road for the righteous is not an easy one, he calls suffering believers to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator — and to keep doing good. Like a farmer who plants and tends his crops despite uncertain skies, the believer is called to remain faithful and active, trusting that God, who is faithful, holds both their present trials and their eternal future in His hands.
