Following Christ May Bring Persecution

I Peter 4:1–6
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During China’s Boxer Rebellion of 1900, insurgents captured a mission station, blocked all the gates but one, and in front of that one gate placed a cross flat on the ground. Then the word was passed to those inside that any who trampled the cross underfoot would be permitted the … More

Persecution

Peter explains how the Christian who stands true to Christ during persecution doesn’t do evil. Christ never returned evil for evil and the Christian who has the right attitude of Christ toward suffering will not strike out against his persecutors. 

We find in this passage a big contrast between the saved man and the lost man. The man who does not know God, is driven by his own desires and seeks only to satisfy his own appetites. The true Christian does not live to satisfy his fleshly desires but wants to accom­plish the will of his father in heaven. We see where the unsaved even consider it strange that their old friends who are now Christians no longer want to run around with them (v. 4).

We need to be patient toward the lost even though we do not agree with their lifestyle or participate in their sins. We need to remember that unsaved people are blind to spiritual truth (II Corinthians 4:3-4) and dead to things that are spiritual (Ephesians 2:1). In fact, when unsaved friends attack us, this can be a real opportuni­ty to witness to them (I Peter 3:15).

Application

When have I suffered the most? Has it been physically through illness, disease, injury etc. or has it been through verbal persecution by others? How has this suffering affected my life and my desire to serve the Lord? Why?

I Peter 4:1-6 (English Standard Version)


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