Three children, ages 5, 7, and 8, lost their father to a sudden brain aneurism. One year later, their mom died of breast cancer. They now live with their grandparents, struggling to work through their painful grief and loss.
A student grieved the loss of her daughter, after she had decided to place her baby girl for adoption. Three years later, her father died of cancer. Two months after that, she began her seminary studies in Pasadena. She was left dazed and confused, trying to sort out God’s healing in her life.
Another Fuller student announced to his family and community just four months ago that he would be starting a seminary career, and was going to leave engineering to become a pastor. The ridicules and disapproving comments still echo in his head.
Suffering surrounds us! Even if it looks perfect, then often times emptiness and depression is just hidden underneath the surface. But how do we respond to suffering? What can we do about all of the grief around us? Fortunately, God promises responds to our suffering.
The first Christians certainly dealt with suffering. But their suffering looked a lot different than ours. The readers of I Peter were ridiculed by the Roman citizens around them. Of course they were. They were known as a threat to the peace of Rome! They would gather early in the morning to meet, as if they were conspiring. They were accused of atheism, because they would not worship the Roman gods. Everyone knew they had rejected the gods. It’s as if every Friday was Roman-god-t-shirt day, but the Christians never joined in. They were even accused of cannibalism, since they claimed to eat the body of Christ. Oh, and it goes on! They were accused of having sex parties, because they would secretly meet in each others’ houses and greet everyone with a holy kiss. You know that there were a few Roman citizens who tried to sign on to Christianity after that! Christians simply didn’t fit in with the rest of the empire. They were the talk of the empire, the subject of all the talk shows, the laughing stock at parties. This was the kind of ridicule that Peter addressed. This is the relentless verbal attack that they endured.
So Peter addressed them in their suffering. But as they tried to brush off the humiliating words that they constantly heard, the words continued to sting. So Peter wrote to them, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God.” Humble yourselves?! Why would Peter require suffering, humiliated Christians to humble themselves?
Mother Teresa once cared for a particular older woman. This woman had traveled for days to come to stay with the saintly nun. It was very difficult for her to travel, as red, blistering sores covered her body. However, once she finally reached her destination, she rested in the sanctuary of the clean, soft sheets. But she had difficulty allowing others to care for her. At first, instead of letting a caretaker wash out her sores, she said, “No, it’s OK. I’ll do it myself.” However, over the next couple of weeks, one deep sore on her back had worsened. It had grown raw, and desperately needed attention in order to fight the infection that was growing quickly. She finally said to Mother Teresa, “Please help me. I cannot wash my sores alone.”
This woman experienced what Peter talks about when he instructs his readers to humble themselves. In other words, Peter is telling his readers, accept God’s care and protection. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God! And how did this woman accept God’s care? By accepting the care of others.
You may say, “Well, this passage doesn’t really relate to our circumstances. Peter’s audience was suffering because they were Christians.” It’s true. We’re not ridiculed for being cannibals. But we do suffer in other ways, and God meets us in that suffering, and also brings healing to our lives. This passage makes a strong statement about the care of God. This care of God is the context of I Peter. But humbling yourselves is only half of it! What is this great promise that we have been waiting for? We receive a promise when we humble ourselves to God. The verse says, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and God will lift you up.”
"So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and God will lift you up (I Peter 5:6)." If you are lonely at Fuller, and finally share this pain with somebody, you are accepting the comfort of God. If you feel burdened for a sick or troubled parent, and receive comfort from a sister in Christ, you are humbling yourself to God. When we recognize that we are all broken, and humble ourselves to the care of others, God promises to bring healing to our lives.
You are not alone in your suffering. And we are not meant to experience suffering alone. Think about the little children I mentioned earlier. Both of their parents have died. How can God walk with them into healing? Certainly not by themselves. Certainly not alone, in an isolated room. No, they desperately need the tender love and care of others. What makes us think that we can walk into healing alone? No, let us humble ourselves now, and God will lift us up.
Peter ends this passage by reminding his readers that God has called them to his eternal glory in Christ. God calls. As children of God we must remember that we are not rejected, but rather wanted and accepted by God. You are wanted and accepted by God, and God will meet you in your suffering, whatever that may be.
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be power forever and ever. Amen
Suffering surrounds us! Even if it looks perfect, then often times emptiness and depression is just hidden underneath the surface. But how do we respond to suffering? What can we do about all of the grief around us? Fortunately, God promises responds to our suffering.
The first Christians certainly dealt with suffering. But their suffering looked a lot different than ours. The readers of I Peter were ridiculed by the Roman citizens around them. Of course they were. They were known as a threat to the peace of Rome! They would gather early in the morning to meet, as if they were conspiring. They were accused of atheism, because they would not worship the Roman gods. Everyone knew they had rejected the gods. It’s as if every Friday was Roman-god-t-shirt day, but the Christians never joined in. They were even accused of cannibalism, since they claimed to eat the body of Christ. Oh, and it goes on! They were accused of having sex parties, because they would secretly meet in each others’ houses and greet everyone with a holy kiss. You know that there were a few Roman citizens who tried to sign on to Christianity after that! Christians simply didn’t fit in with the rest of the empire. They were the talk of the empire, the subject of all the talk shows, the laughing stock at parties. This was the kind of ridicule that Peter addressed. This is the relentless verbal attack that they endured.
So Peter addressed them in their suffering. But as they tried to brush off the humiliating words that they constantly heard, the words continued to sting. So Peter wrote to them, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God.” Humble yourselves?! Why would Peter require suffering, humiliated Christians to humble themselves?
Mother Teresa once cared for a particular older woman. This woman had traveled for days to come to stay with the saintly nun. It was very difficult for her to travel, as red, blistering sores covered her body. However, once she finally reached her destination, she rested in the sanctuary of the clean, soft sheets. But she had difficulty allowing others to care for her. At first, instead of letting a caretaker wash out her sores, she said, “No, it’s OK. I’ll do it myself.” However, over the next couple of weeks, one deep sore on her back had worsened. It had grown raw, and desperately needed attention in order to fight the infection that was growing quickly. She finally said to Mother Teresa, “Please help me. I cannot wash my sores alone.”
This woman experienced what Peter talks about when he instructs his readers to humble themselves. In other words, Peter is telling his readers, accept God’s care and protection. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God! And how did this woman accept God’s care? By accepting the care of others.
You may say, “Well, this passage doesn’t really relate to our circumstances. Peter’s audience was suffering because they were Christians.” It’s true. We’re not ridiculed for being cannibals. But we do suffer in other ways, and God meets us in that suffering, and also brings healing to our lives. This passage makes a strong statement about the care of God. This care of God is the context of I Peter. But humbling yourselves is only half of it! What is this great promise that we have been waiting for? We receive a promise when we humble ourselves to God. The verse says, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and God will lift you up.”
"So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and God will lift you up (I Peter 5:6)." If you are lonely at Fuller, and finally share this pain with somebody, you are accepting the comfort of God. If you feel burdened for a sick or troubled parent, and receive comfort from a sister in Christ, you are humbling yourself to God. When we recognize that we are all broken, and humble ourselves to the care of others, God promises to bring healing to our lives.
You are not alone in your suffering. And we are not meant to experience suffering alone. Think about the little children I mentioned earlier. Both of their parents have died. How can God walk with them into healing? Certainly not by themselves. Certainly not alone, in an isolated room. No, they desperately need the tender love and care of others. What makes us think that we can walk into healing alone? No, let us humble ourselves now, and God will lift us up.
Peter ends this passage by reminding his readers that God has called them to his eternal glory in Christ. God calls. As children of God we must remember that we are not rejected, but rather wanted and accepted by God. You are wanted and accepted by God, and God will meet you in your suffering, whatever that may be.
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be power forever and ever. Amen
1 comment:
loved this. Thank you
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