2013: Walking in Faith: blessed to suffer: January 14

So, I'm sitting here studying 1st Peter. Of course, I am reading up on the background info concerning the circumstances Peter was enduring. For some reason, my emotions aren't stable this morning. As I read the words "this letter was written just before the outbreak of Nero's persecution (63AD), Peter was martyred about 67 AD," something stirs in me. I flipped the page to look at the time-line of 1st Peter and as I scrolled across these words "Stephen martyred, James martyred, Peter and Paul martyred,"  it hits me differently than most days. This morning, I am brought to tears for these men and all the martyrs since.  They were so faithful til the end. And, for the group Peter was addressing, my heart breaks; Nero was SO cruel. EX: lighting Christians on fire and putting them up as torches around town was a past-time of his. And yet, through historical documents, I've learned that the Christians tried to befriend those against them and met their hate with Love and prayer. Talk about people who could have been justified in their anger, but that's not how they responded. These people rejoiced and clung to encouragement like 1st Peter 3:13-14 "Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed." 

Blessed to suffer, I cannot grasp this.  It gets way deeper about blessing in suffering.  Peter isn't talking to Americans about  the ways American's "suffer" like giving up things that alter our senses or not fitting in with our old crowd because Christianity and the call to be pure makes  us "weird" now , Peter is talking about believers being drug out in the street by the hair on their heads and being beaten or killed.  I'm just really having a struggle this morning. Here I have trouble committing to fellowship with believers, committing to a prayer journal, committing to alone time with God and these people are committed to the death. And, every time I think about the severe conditions of the early church, I hear Paul whisper to a different group of  friends, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus....." I have fought the good fight, plays over and over in my mind.  This was not a "beat you up fight," this was a Spiritual fight to spread God's truth despite the struggle with outsiders, a fight to live pure and holy in the midst of our sinful desire, the fight to continue this walk  despite Satan and demonic forces at work. I want nothing more than to be able to say, "I have fought the good fight," at my day's end.  Thank You, God for the wonderful work of your body. What amazing sacrifices have been made so that I can sit here and study w/o fear. Open my eyes to the good fight. Let my walk be about You and not about my circumstances. Thank You for our ultimate sacrifice.