The Demands of the Committed Life

MEMORY VERSE: “For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well-doing, than for evil-doing.” —I Peter 3:17

JOHN 15:18-20
I PETER 3:13-17

THE Apostle Peter wrote, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (I Pet. 4:12,13) One of the privileges of the committed Christian life is to suffer and die with Christ.

It is true that the ultimate purpose of Jesus in coming into the world was to establish peace and joy among the people of all nations, but this objective is not attained during the Gospel Age period of the divine plan. Jesus did not establish his kingdom of peace at the beginning of the age. Instead, he began the selection from the world of mankind of a “little flock” who, upon their willingness to suffer and die with him, would prove worthy to live and reign with him in his kingdom. Not until the selection of this little company is complete will Christ’s kingdom of peace be established in the earth, and manifest itself, ultimately destroying all evil, even death itself.

When sending his disciples out into the ministry he said to them, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”—Matt. 10:34,35

Neither Jesus, nor those who serve as his witnesses, deliberately stir up strife within a home. This statement is merely reminding us of that which has been experienced throughout the age; namely, that when the Gospel is proclaimed not all who hear it respond, and that there is no assurance that all in a given family will respond. It often happens that but a single one in the family is drawn to the Lord by the Gospel of the kingdom, and it also is often true that those who do not respond become persecutors of those who do.

And this is true in the world as a whole. This is the reason that a devoted Christian encounters opposition and persecution from the world. But Jesus comforted us in this, saying, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”—John 15:18

Jesus was hated by the religious world of his day because he exposed popular errors and proclaimed unpopular truths. Even the religious leaders would not have persecuted Jesus if he had refrained from proclaiming his Father’s Word among the people. He exposed “the traditions of the elders,” wherein they were wrong and pointed out how those traditions were being used as substitutes for his Father’s words which had been given through the prophets. (Matt. 15:2,6) They hated Jesus for this because it tended to destroy their prestige among the people.

But these experiences worked “good” for Jesus, and they will for us, as Peter wrote, “Who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?” From the human standpoint it might seem that Jesus’ enemies harmed him. Certainly they caused him a great deal of suffering. They beat him, spat upon him, placed a crown of thorns upon his head, and put him to death on the cross. But this merely tested the faith and loyalty of the Master. As a new creature he was not harmed, for on the third day he was raised from the dead and highly exalted to the right hand of God.

The same principle holds true with us in our suffering; that is, if, as our memory verse states, our suffering is because of our doing good, as it was in the case of Jesus. Our sufferings are likewise proving our faith and endurance, and if we endure steadfast unto the end we too, in the “first resurrection,” will be exalted, as Jesus was, and will have the privilege of living and reigning with Christ a thousand years.

After pointing out the privilege of doing good and suffering for it, Peter adds, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” What a blessed privilege we have of suffering as Jesus suffered!

QUESTIONS

When will Jesus establish peace on earth?

Meanwhile, what is the divine plan for Jesus’ followers?

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