“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you…”
We know it’s coming in one degree or another. It’s just a matter of when and in what circumstance. It’s not something strange that has singled you out. No, it’s not just a test. It is real. It will test you and demonstrate to the world what you are made of.
“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed…” Not just insulted for any old reason, but insulted because of the Holy Spirit’s presence in you. Remember, “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. ” I John 4:4.
“…if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed…” Just as when Peter or Paul or any of the disciples were imprisoned or persecuted, let it be a time of glorifying God. Rejoice that you share in Christ’s sufferings so that you may rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.
“…always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you…” 1 Peter 3:15
Most Christians have probably heard that they need to be ready to share the gospel to whoever might ask. If the truth be known, a lot of us prefer this to the idea that we should share the gospel even when we aren’t asked. There is nothing particularly wrong with either approach, and our preference for one or the other may be influenced by our own gifts and abilities as well as our comfort zones.
“Defense” in this case is usually seen in the sense of a reasoned argument supporting an idea or position, and not in the sense of repelling an attack or protecting ourselves from danger. But the context that Peter provides suggests both ideas are in play.
Why would anyone object or oppose you for getting excited over what is right and good? This may have sounded ridiculous a generation or two ago, but the understanding of “good” and “right” is not so clear in this present generation. The possibility that Christians might suffer for righteousness’ sake keeps getting stronger.
In response, Peter encourages us to “have no fear of them, nor be troubled” and gives a two-pronged course of action: 1) maintain the Lordship of Christ in your heart, i.e., He’s the boss, He’s in charge, not the opposing voices; and 2) prepare a defense of your hope in Christ, seasoned with gentleness and respect.
This is not done out of a need to “be nice” when talking about Jesus, but to avoid responding in the natural fleshly manner: repaying evil for evil or reviling when reviled (see previous post). There should be nothing in our actions or reactions that could be cause for accusation. “It is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” 1 Peter 3:17.
How can we be prepared? By thinking out in advance why you have placed your hope in Jesus Christ. The basic truths are the same for everyone, but God has dealt with each one us in slightly different ways. Perhaps your story may strike a chord with an accuser in a way no one else’s could.
“… so that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire— may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:7 ESV
Precious. Greatly valued, loved, important. How many things do we regard as precious? People – children, parents, friends, sweethearts – often head the list, and sometimes things can vie for our affection, too. But how often is our faith included here?
It is not so much how we rank what is precious to us, but the process by which value is gained. The word for trial or testing comes from the industry of metallurgy. It deals with refining a raw ore to remove impurities and reveal the genuine metal. This is often accomplished by the application of heat or fire. Even modern mining operations excavate truck loads of rock, pulverize it into pellets, leach the precious metal out with chemicals and melt it with high heat before pouring it into an ingot mold. One mine reports that 12 tons of rock may produce only one ounce of gold. One ounce. That’s precious. Precious enough to go to all that trouble and expense.
Yet Peter declares our faith is of more value than gold. And he links it with the testing of that faith to be sure it is pure and genuine. How much of a trial does it take for you to back away and abandon your faith? Peter knows that pressure. Remember the night he denied knowing Jesus not once, but three times? (Mark 14:66-72)
What value does a gold ring have if it isn’t truly gold? At that final day of judgment, there will be no payoff for any currency but genuine faith.
