Week of July 26

A Bible commentator catches my eye when he writes, “Affliction either drives one into the arms of God or severs one from God” (NAC). This perspective often proves to be true, but thankfully Peter opens our eyes today to a useful aspect to affliction that we may have failed to consider. He shows us clearly how we sometimes interfere with God’s good work in us when we are experiencing bad things in life! Let’s look closely today at God’s word about humble submission when we suffer in His name.

Peter has reached the place where he takes up concerns related to the house churches throughout Asia Minor (see 1:1-1). He has just concluded a section on suffering at the hands of outsiders. Even though a conjunction begins this section, some scholars do not see the logical link to the previous subject (cf. NAC). However, we may well understand the strains that would occur within the church, due to suffering, and the need to encourage and strengthen the internal fellowship to prevent stress fractures in the body. 

We read of two possible sources of distress in the church. Leaders and younger followers needed to respond appropriately to other members in the church (cf. 5:1-5, compulsion, greed, domineering behavior). Peter has also inserted the reminder that “judgment begins with the household of God,” so there is a deeper theological current of submission to the Lord running through his instructions (cf. 5:17-18). An anti-Christian backlash is evident today in sections of our culture, so we should recognize the importance of sustaining healthy relationships in our extraordinarily stressful contemporary society.

There appears to be a paragraph division in our English translations between verses 5 and 6, but the thought carries over—the call to humble submission to God. We need to examine this passage through a theological lens. Here, Peter links our suffering to God’s sovereignty. He wants us to submit to God’s will and purpose in our suffering because we trust God and know that He will bring all things to a good end (cf. Romans 8:28). We get this, but we often do not avail ourselves of the benefit God offers to us in our sufferings!

First, we must submit to God. When we submit to God, not only for our salvation, but also our entire lives, then God will exalt us and give us the full reward of eternal life, the one that we can know in part now, on the last day (v. 6; cf. James 4:10). This means that we are to submit ourselves to God when we suffer persecution for being a Christian and not to chafe at His will. We need to realize that He is purifying His church (1 Peter 4:17). The use of the expression “God’s mighty hand” reminds us of His deliverance from Egypt. God delivered Israel, and He also will deliver these believers (we, too) from their (our) sufferings. The goal is to receive God’s final reward, life eternal. 

Second, humility means that we hand over our worries to Him (v. 7a). Sometimes we create our own hardship that leads to emotional suffering! We fail to recognize that worry hinders our relationship with God. Worry is a form of pride, since it denies the care of a sovereign God. We all have worries, don’t we? A long-time friend, and Christian counselor, writes, “None of us is immune from the circumstances that feed anxiety and worry.” Peter writes and tells us that we should cease our worrying (cf. Matthew 6:25-34). The antidote to worrying is to believe and rest in God’s care for us. He wants us to see that the way to humble ourselves before God is to cease with our worrying. We fail the humility test when we worry because we are then showing God that we remain convinced that we must solve all our problems on our own. When we throw our worries on God, we show Him that we trust His mighty hand. We do so because He cares so much for us.

We have a magnetic notepad at home that sticks to our refrigerator. If something is written on the pad, then I will soon find that item inside the refrigerator or pantry. It is not rocket science! Imagine that you have a mental notepad of anxieties that your emotions and physical body store. These fears that lead to worry rob God of the space He requires inside your life. Peter challenges us to clean out the “spiritual refrigerator,” so that it may be filled with God’s presence and care. 

Part of the trouble rests in the fact that we too often do not see that God can bring any good out of our difficult circumstances—specifically enduring hardship for being Christ’s followers. We often foolishly slip back into the old ways of trying to fend for ourselves, when all the while God is shaping us for our full and final eternal purpose. Let’s spend time reflecting upon ways to turn our worries over to God.

1. Jot down your top five worries and then, in a moment of solidarity with God’s will for your life, give them to Him. Follow up at the end of the next several weeks and write down ways God has replaced worry with His peace.

2. For Families: If you have junior-high and high-school children, they may have already started “two-a-days” for football, band, cheer-leading, and many other sports/activities. These early morning and afternoon sessions take their toll. Perhaps some extra attention and consistent encouragement will help them as they enter into a difficult few weeks. Challenge your kids to use these sessions as “two-a-days” in walking with God too!

As they awaken in the early morning, be ready to greet them with a sweet word of love for their hearts and something nourishing for their bodies. In the afternoons, give them cheerful send-offs and welcoming returns as they complete each daily round. Place a small verse of inspiration in their hand each day, so they can remember that God will be with them, and there will be spiritual work for them to do too. Click here for a list of verses to lighten their hearts as they work out. Perhaps tomorrow you can begin with our verse of the day:

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock