Thursday after Jubilate, 5/10/01I Peter 4:13 "But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." (NKJV)
In the Name of Jesus Christ, the crucified King of Glory, Amen. What in your life causes you to rejoice? Rejoicing is reserved usually for the happiest of occasions, such as the birth of a child or weddings or milestones such as graduations. Yet here we see that we are to "rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings." Suffering and rejoicing seem to be opposites, to rejoice in suffering seems to be an oxymoron, or at the very least, ironic. Suffering more often leads to complaint, asking "Why me?" or even to questioning God's motives in allowing these things to happen to us. Notice that the sufferings mentioned in the above verse are "Christ's sufferings." In this life, the Christian, because he is a Christian experiences grace mingled with hardship. Partaking, sharing, in Christ's sufferings, we are drawn closer to Him. What a privilege this is, a gift of God's grace! According to tradition, the writer of today's lesson, the apostle Peter was hung on an upside down cross, for he said to those crucifying him, "I am not worthy to die as my Lord." Through partaking of Christ's sufferings, we learn to despair of ourselves and rely on God's undeserved love in Christ. We willingly and joyfully bear the cross when, by the Holy Spirit's gift of faith, we "consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Rom. 8:17)
Prayer: Grant, O Lord, by faith worked by Your Holy Spirit, that we may be found clothed in the robe of Christ's righteousness and counted worthy partakers of His sufferings, that when we may also partakers of His glory when He returns. Give us strength to patiently and even joyfully bear the cross, knowing that a greater joy awaits us in the eternal glories of heaven. Amen.