“In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials” – 1 Peter 1:6

Joy in suffering.

Hmmm.

Throughout church history, Christians rejoiced. In good times and in bad times. Through tribulation and persecution, through disease and death, through famines and wars, Christians rejoiced.

It wasn’t that Christians were immune from suffering and trials. The incredible reality is that Christians rejoiced even in the face of suffering, tribulation, and trials.

How is that possible?

The key is the phrase “In this.” In what? What’s the secret?

1 Peter 1:3-5 tells us the content of “In this”:

“Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

The promise of the resurrection and inheritance of eternal life changed everything for the Christians. There was no persecution, no amount of suffering, no hardship, not even the threat of death that could take away the promises of the resurrection. Christ purchased for Christians an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. This gift was purchased through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This resurrection reality changed everything for the Christian.

In our days of global pandemic, what is our hope? What is our strength? To live a few more days? years? No. Our hope is Jesus Christ. Our strength is in the promise of the resurrection. The gift of eternal life is a gift no one, no-thing, can ever take away from Christians.

In this – the power of the resurrection – we rejoice, even if now for a little while we have to suffer various trials.

It is fitting that we are currently preparing for Holy Week. This Easter is going to rock! We are people of the resurrection. Easter changes everything!

“In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials.” 

Amen!

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” – John 14:27

Hey March…how about a mulligan?

It’s astonishing how much our world has changed in a matter of weeks. February seems like lifetimes ago. Peace sounds really good right about now.

We typically think of peace as the absence of turmoil, strife, and suffering. But that’s not the peace Jesus is talking about.

The peace Jesus offers us is the ability to experience peace in the midst of turmoil, strife, and suffering. It is a peace that surpasses human understanding. It is a peace this world cannot offer because nothing in this world has defeated sin and death. Only Jesus has. It is a peace only the risen Christ can offer.

It is worth noting that when Jesus spoke these words to the disciples, it was after the Last Supper and after Jesus washed his disciples feet. Jesus spoke these words hours before he was crucified. Jesus was modeling the peace he was offering.

Finally, it should be noted that the peace Jesus offers is not a feeling. It is a choice. Jesus commands “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” These are imperatives in the Greek. He orders us to not be troubled in troubling times, and not to be afraid in fearful times. How can we do that? We have to choose the peace Jesus offers.

I am glad this is the peace Jesus offers us because the world I live in has more than its share of turmoil, strife, and suffering.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”

Thank you Jesus!

“I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” – Joshua 1:9

We love verses like this. It is so very comforting in an anxiety-ridden uncertain world like our’s. But when we hear and see verses like this in the context of all this uncertainty and frightening times, well…it sounds hollow.

I like what this verse promises, but I am not sure how it applies to a world that is as scary and uncertain as our world.

If you’re like that you’re not alone. So, let’s think about why the promise of Joshua 1:9 is true and why it is a game changer.

1. The truth of this verse is life-changing. When we know that God is with us that there is nothing in the created world that can separate us from the love of God – now that, that is a game changer
2. The verse has to be read in context in order to gain an understanding of it

This verse does not promises we can go wherever we want and do whatever we want because God’s got our back. The verse right before tells us the context in which we can stand with confidence and courage:

“This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful” – Joshua 1:8

You see that? When we live and act in accordance to God’s book. That’s the criteria. That’s the context. It is when we live according to God’s will that we can stand firm and be confident and courageous even in the midst of uncertainty and anxiety because God is with us.

So, during this time of staying home in order to stay safe, get into God’s word. I mean, you’ve got the time…right?

P.S. – if you’re going to read God’s word, don’t start in the Old Testament. Start with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

• Read one chapter a day and write down what jumps out at you
• Write and think about why that particular verse or word made an impression on you
• Finally, write what God is asking you to do based on what God showed you in his word