August 21st 2016
Those Who Suffer According To God’s Will Should Continue To Do Good!
1 Peter 4:18-19 (NIV)
And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
Do you feel that you sometimes suffer because you have taken Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior? It appears this type of feeling may be more true today in the USA! However, we still hear people who have acclaim as athletes, and thus, have the opportunity to speak out, who confirm their commitment to God. During this Olympic season many athletes have been interviewed, and often you can hear them proclaim that God has blessed them with good health and physical abilities so they give God some glory for the medal they just won! Are you willing to join “those who suffer according to God’s will?” No one in their right mind chooses to suffer, except when they can expect good results from their suffering.
There can be, and there is, suffering involved in training your body, so you can compete in sports activities and of course, not everyone can compete on the highest levels. Most of us just marvel at the exceptional people who have put in the work to hone their bodies to do amazing things, and to represent their country in the Olympics! However, such hard work will gain them acclaim in sports, but it alone will not gain them any acclaim with Jesus! If, however, they offer their suffering during training to be honoring God, then all of this hard work may gain them some notice from God. Can this alone gain them salvation? Of course not, for salvation is only obtained through your acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Salvation is an award that is reserved only for those who claim it by taking on Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior! No good works or agonizing training adds anything to this God provided award, which results in you going to heaven when you die to this mortal life, and immediately start your immortal life with Jesus! There may be some reward that you gain for your good deeds and hard word offered to God/Jesus when you enter your immortal life, but there is much disagreement on such a claim. We should work hard and do good deeds because of our joy with the indescribable gift of salvation through what Jesus did for us!
Now, back to this possibility you may suffer when you tell others about this wonderful gift of salvation. John wrote about this too. You may have noticed the selected verses started with the word “and” this was there, because of the preceding verses John wrote. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:15-17) Here John is being more specific about why you may be suffering, and thus, whether such suffering is being directed to Jesus or toward yourself!
John next points out the importance of why you may suffer as a follower of Jesus, when someone does not believe or understand your message about Jesus being your Lord and Savior. If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. Do you really praise God when you feel you are suffering because someone snubs you or even threatens to do you harm, because of your message to them about Jesus offer of salvation? There are places in this world where you can be imprisoned, and possibly executed for expressions of joy due to your salvation through Jesus Christ. Some of the USA Olympians expressed their thanks to God for their ability to win a medal. However, in the interviews I’ve seen, none of them gave praise to Jesus Christ specifically. This could have been an oversite on their part, or it could be they are not Christians.
It would seem that not specifically naming Jesus would not be an easy oversite, as the huge statue of Jesus that is overlooking Rio is such an imposing site! How about you, if you were blessed with the ability to be the best at something in this world, would you give acclaim to Jesus, or would you be proud of the greatest status symbol awarded and wear your “gold medal” with self-pride? Most of those reading this commentary do not really have to worry about how we would handle being the best in the world at anything. Therefore, we do not have the reality of being tested in this way.
Paul wrote about the value of training, which is more important than any training related to accomplishments in this world. Instead of a gold medal Paul wrote about getting a crown, which could be only for this world, or for training that could produce a crown for use in the new world that is to come. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last for ever. (1Corinthians 9:25) So we who may never gain this world’s acclaim, should be instead working on competing for a crown that may be awarded in heaven.
Paul also wrote to a young pastor about physical training which has earthly value, and could even extend your life, but then Paul emphasized the more important type of training for Christians. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (1Timothy 4:8) So are you working on your most important training needed in this life? As Paul writes, this most important training, all of can do, which will improve our current life, and put us on that narrow path that leads to Jesus, “godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Now that is the best of both worlds, and also gives immediate results! Physical training never gives immediate results!
Paul also points Timothy and us to the where this total training can be found. No you do not need to join a gym to get this training you can do at your kitchen table, or in your den, or anywhere you can read. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2Timothy 3:16-17) Yes, all you need to learn is contained in the Bible. Do you read it every day? Actually, you need to study it every day! It is too interesting to just read it!
Let’s end this commentary with an OT lesson about our need to abide with God’s plan for our lives. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) Always give thanks for Jesus’ Gift!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
1 Peter 4:18-19 (NIV)
And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
Do you feel that you sometimes suffer because you have taken Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior? It appears this type of feeling may be more true today in the USA! However, we still hear people who have acclaim as athletes, and thus, have the opportunity to speak out, who confirm their commitment to God. During this Olympic season many athletes have been interviewed, and often you can hear them proclaim that God has blessed them with good health and physical abilities so they give God some glory for the medal they just won! Are you willing to join “those who suffer according to God’s will?” No one in their right mind chooses to suffer, except when they can expect good results from their suffering.
There can be, and there is, suffering involved in training your body, so you can compete in sports activities and of course, not everyone can compete on the highest levels. Most of us just marvel at the exceptional people who have put in the work to hone their bodies to do amazing things, and to represent their country in the Olympics! However, such hard work will gain them acclaim in sports, but it alone will not gain them any acclaim with Jesus! If, however, they offer their suffering during training to be honoring God, then all of this hard work may gain them some notice from God. Can this alone gain them salvation? Of course not, for salvation is only obtained through your acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Salvation is an award that is reserved only for those who claim it by taking on Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior! No good works or agonizing training adds anything to this God provided award, which results in you going to heaven when you die to this mortal life, and immediately start your immortal life with Jesus! There may be some reward that you gain for your good deeds and hard word offered to God/Jesus when you enter your immortal life, but there is much disagreement on such a claim. We should work hard and do good deeds because of our joy with the indescribable gift of salvation through what Jesus did for us!
Now, back to this possibility you may suffer when you tell others about this wonderful gift of salvation. John wrote about this too. You may have noticed the selected verses started with the word “and” this was there, because of the preceding verses John wrote. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:15-17) Here John is being more specific about why you may be suffering, and thus, whether such suffering is being directed to Jesus or toward yourself!
John next points out the importance of why you may suffer as a follower of Jesus, when someone does not believe or understand your message about Jesus being your Lord and Savior. If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. Do you really praise God when you feel you are suffering because someone snubs you or even threatens to do you harm, because of your message to them about Jesus offer of salvation? There are places in this world where you can be imprisoned, and possibly executed for expressions of joy due to your salvation through Jesus Christ. Some of the USA Olympians expressed their thanks to God for their ability to win a medal. However, in the interviews I’ve seen, none of them gave praise to Jesus Christ specifically. This could have been an oversite on their part, or it could be they are not Christians.
It would seem that not specifically naming Jesus would not be an easy oversite, as the huge statue of Jesus that is overlooking Rio is such an imposing site! How about you, if you were blessed with the ability to be the best at something in this world, would you give acclaim to Jesus, or would you be proud of the greatest status symbol awarded and wear your “gold medal” with self-pride? Most of those reading this commentary do not really have to worry about how we would handle being the best in the world at anything. Therefore, we do not have the reality of being tested in this way.
Paul wrote about the value of training, which is more important than any training related to accomplishments in this world. Instead of a gold medal Paul wrote about getting a crown, which could be only for this world, or for training that could produce a crown for use in the new world that is to come. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last for ever. (1Corinthians 9:25) So we who may never gain this world’s acclaim, should be instead working on competing for a crown that may be awarded in heaven.
Paul also wrote to a young pastor about physical training which has earthly value, and could even extend your life, but then Paul emphasized the more important type of training for Christians. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (1Timothy 4:8) So are you working on your most important training needed in this life? As Paul writes, this most important training, all of can do, which will improve our current life, and put us on that narrow path that leads to Jesus, “godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Now that is the best of both worlds, and also gives immediate results! Physical training never gives immediate results!
Paul also points Timothy and us to the where this total training can be found. No you do not need to join a gym to get this training you can do at your kitchen table, or in your den, or anywhere you can read. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2Timothy 3:16-17) Yes, all you need to learn is contained in the Bible. Do you read it every day? Actually, you need to study it every day! It is too interesting to just read it!
Let’s end this commentary with an OT lesson about our need to abide with God’s plan for our lives. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) Always give thanks for Jesus’ Gift!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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