"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you: but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy" (1 Peter 4:12, 13).
Certainly not all people who suffer are Christians. But it is safe to say that all who are truly disciples of Christ will suffer. "Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12). Such persecution is directly related to the godly living of the child of God. If one lives godly he will meet with resistance from all that is in opposition to God. It's no wonder then that Peter says to "think it not strange concerning the fiery trials among you." In fact such suffering is to be expected.
But it is not all suffering that is under consideration. It is being a partaker of "Christ's sufferings" that Peter discusses. "For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men's matters: but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name" (1 Peter 4:15, 16). Jesus recognized that such suffering would follow those who follow Him. "I have given them thy word; and the world hateth them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (John 17:14). Jesus suffered because He was willing to subject Himself to the will of the Father, and when we suffer for this cause such is righteous suffering.
Peter says this righteous suffering becomes for us an occasion for rejoicing. How can this be? Paul tells us to look "unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2). Certainly there was no joy to be found in the anguish of Calvary's cruel tree. But Paul continues in this passage to say that Christ "sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." After the suffering came the glory.
And so Christ says: "Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 10:22). It is in this manner that these sufferings "cometh upon you to prove you." To endure such sufferings to the end is to prove and temper our faith so that it becomes even stronger. Therefore, even the sufferings themselves can produce a time of rejoicing as we look beyond the suffering to the glory. "And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh stedfastness; and stedfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope" (Romans 5:3, 4).
We rejoice in righteous suffering because just as Jesus was glorified after the agony of the cross, so shall we reach glory, for, "he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved." Such hope of glory gives us a proper perspective of righteous suffering. "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward" (Romans 8:18).
~In Gospel Power, Anderson, Alabama, 4/25/99.