Peter's Pen 1s Peter 4:12-13 Oops out of order

Peter's Pen 1st Peter 4:12-13

I Peter 4: 12-13:  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.   ESV

I'd like to paraphrase this verse - just to give some flavor -- "Beloved, when  the flames of persecution lap about your knees (and they will), don't say nobody told you, don't even wonder why, expect it all the time!!!!"

Get the drift?  Don't act dumb or do a "poor little me" when the world, the flesh and/or the devil turns on the burners!!!  From Jesus' own mouth we have been well warned that persecution isn't a "maybe," it is a, "oh- yeah!"

It is not about you and me, it's is about Him and the fallen one's hatred for Him and all that is His.  No whining!  No shock!  Rather, an, "I was expecting that," would be most appropriate.

But let me wander from the "Big One," to the issue of being prepared for the, "Big One."

We are never NOT under attack - never - not ever - no way - no how!

TV shows, politics, commercials, movies, magazines - all of these are attacks upon our hearts which incite our affections and lead to a fight for our consciences and holiness.  Whatever the "world" or Satan throws at us - no matter how minor, no matter how subtle, no matter how apparently innocuous is an attack, anything that conjures the idea that Christ is not utterly sufficient and/or that God is not utterly providential, is an attack.

Subaru is my favorite example.  Do you know that if you buy a Subaru, you will have "love" in your life?  That's what their ads say.  Watch for the little "love" graphic on their ads.

What about Victoria's Secret?  Why do I (or you ladies for that matter) need to see half naked women in their underwear?  Will this underwear make you a better person?  They want you to think so. [Maybe not so much being better - - but definitely more desirable]

What about sporting events hype?  Does it really matter who gets the funny ball to the end of the cow pasture?  Is this an important event or is it just a way for sellers to present you with the proposition that if you buy their stuff you will be a good person?  Why are cheerleaders half-naked?  Does that make the team better?


We have to accept that what the world (and the devil through it) offers us is nothing but temptation to be dissatisfied with our state.  Whether it's a car, underwear, the latest digital gizmoe - they all want us to feel we NEED their product to be - well - at least normal.

The problem is we blow off these little trials, ignoring their cumulative effect on our hearts and minds.  I believe that the more sensitive we are and appropriately responsive we are to these things, the less we will be shock by the "Big One."  I mean really, how "real" are the oh so popular "reality shows?"  Is that what He says is "real" life?  It may be for the unredeemed but for us it is a lie right out of the very pit of hell.

If we have been paying attention, it is clear that little by little the culture, indeed even our political and judicial systems, are slowly eroding our freedom to live as His.  Whether they do it via proclaiming some sin is a right or a norm, or through chipping away at our freedom to express - even raise our kids according to - our faith; they want to destroy us.

If the "powers that be" forgot their differences in Christ's day and conspired to kill Him, what makes you think they're not doing the same thing about us today?  Are you that naive?  Our battle is not a cultural battle nor is it a political battle - it's not even a religious battle.  It is a battle for His glory and honor as displayed by our active and faithful service in this world.

If you think I've gone off the deep end into the weirdness of "conspiracies and cabals," you haven't read much of your Bible lately.  Who are our enemies?  Who is "out to get us"?  That would be - the world - the flesh and the devil.  Hello-----anybody there?

So many believers are going to be shocked out of their socks when the "Big One" begins.  They're going to proclaim how nice they were and how they can't believe what's happening and how they've not bothered or hurt anybody.  They are going to feel "betrayed" by the "world" who has always been cooperating with the devil and working on the flesh for their destruction.

I am growing more and more convinced that because of the -- ok this is a tough one - the whoring of the church - the pimping out of the Gospel - we have lost our focus, which is for each individual believer - with the help, encouragement and support of every other believer - to grow more conformed to His likeness every moment.  How does that work when you can't wait to get out of church to see "the game"?  How does that work when we are as engaged by the world's "entertainment" offerings as the non-believer is?  How does that work when we make the accumulation of material things just as much a priority for ourselves as the world does for itself?

Dearest ones, how have we gotten so immured, so numb to the little, pernicious and persistent evils?  How have we come to tolerate - in our homes and even in our churches - the pandering of (and to) the world's standards, goals and priorities?  How have we come to be insensitive to evil - for that's what it is – evil?  We have refused to say "No," to the world - unless it's what we see as a ''big sin."  We have learned to wink and nod at evil because if we didn't, we would be weird - strange creatures - subject to vilification and finger pointing and marginalization ---- Oh, wait, isn't that happening anyway?

But, we will ever, I fear, be willing to feed the beast that seeks to consume us.  We will feed it until there is nothing left for it to eat but - well - us.  When we run out of treats for the beast, we will express shock and dismay when its teeth sink into our throats.

OK - one example.  The big thing right now is buying precious metals - hedging our wealth against the potential financial crisis.  What makes us think that when it finally hits the fan, we'll be allowed to keep any of it?  All that has to be done is for us to be found to be even a quasi-criminal enterprise and they can come and take it.

What part of the following are you refusing to accept?
John 15:19:
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.   ESV

What part of that is a lie?

What about:
James 4:4:
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  ESV

Hello!!!!!!!!  Anyone home?

In the second verse of our passage, Peter admonishes us to rejoice when we suffer for Christ or suffer as Christ's.  Yeah, like that's gonna happen.  I fear that we're trying so hard to be "friends" with the world that we will resent any suffering imposed upon us.  Why?  Because we refuse - absolutely refuse - to "take up our crosses," and follow Him in the little everyday compromises offered us by a world that wants to destroy us.

Just let me ask,
What's on your TeVo or your DVR?  What "shows" are your shows?   What is it in your world that you just can't do without, just can't miss, gotta see, hear, have ............?

If we can't take up our crosses, we will not rejoice when trials and persecution are imposed upon us.  Not only that but, if we can't or won't recognize and accept that a lot of what we hold should rightfully be laid down, I don't know how much we'll rejoice when He returns.