How to Suffer for Goodness Sake

Who could possibly hurt you if you’re following the Lord? Surely God will protect you from evil, because greater is He that is you than He that is in the world. Right? Sort of. Remember Job? He was hurt, even though he followed the Lord. Remember Jesus? He was hurt, even though he was the Lord.

It was Peter who raised the question, And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? (1 Pet. 3:13) As it turns out, it wasn’t a question that demanded the answer no one, because the next verse goes like this: But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.

There are many verses that promise God’s protection and peace. But they have to be balanced with verses like this: Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Tim. 3:12)

As you know by now, the theme of 1 Peter is Be ye holy; for I am holy (1:16) We aren’t holy alone. We follow the guide. If our guide suffered for righteousness’ sake, so will we. Peter tells us how to get through it. Note though that the suffering he discusses isn’t suffering for stupid things we do. It’s the suffering that happens because the world is dark, and the children of darkness don’t think and believe like we do. They expect us to, but we don’t. So they oppose us, and that’s the suffering Peter talks about in chapter 3. Follow his advice:

• Consider yourself happy or blessed instead of terrified or troubled if you get to suffer for righteousness sake. (3:14)
• The fact that you handle persecution this well may intrigue your tormentors, and they will wonder how you do it. Be ready to give a meek answer for the reason of the hope inside you. (3:15)  
• Keep a good conscience, so their accusations against you don’t land on firm ground. If you are living a pure life, your accuser will end up looking stupid for being so petty or for lying about you. (3:16) Really, you’re suffering for their sins of maliciousness. Take it on the chin.
• It’s better that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil. (3:17)

And finally, Jesus is raised as the example: 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: (1 Pet. 3:18)

Jesus suffered for others’ sins to bring us to God. You are blessed if you get to suffer for other people saying unjust things about you. If you handle it in a godly way, it may be used to bring them to Jesus.