“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you” (1 Peter 4:12).
Have you ever experienced mistreatment, and asked the question, “Why Me Lord?”
Tempted and tried we’re oft made to wonder
Why it should be thus all the day long
While there are others living about us
Never molested though in the wrong
~ Farther Along
The reality is that Christians do not ultimately belong here. The world is antagonistic towards our faith, and it is inevitable that on occasion their opposition will result in the “fiery trial” to which Peter alludes.
Regardless, we have reason to “rejoice to the extent that [we] partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed [we] may also be glad with exceeding joy” (vs. 13). So, our suffering really is not a strange thing at all, and is a cause for rejoicing!
“…And when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (cf. Acts 5:40-42).
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