Take Root #18

 Day 18

1 Peter 4:12-16
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be overjoyed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

When I was coaching if one of my linebackers had run off the field and told me someone tried to knock him down, I would of said “of course they did – they are on the other team!”

I think God feels this way when I pray at times…they don’t love me…they don’t treat me well…they don’t include me…. Of course, they don’t – they play for the other team.

So, I can rejoice when I stand out as different because I play for God’s team. If they insult me, it is because I am not one of them.

Then Peter backs it up a little and says don’t blame God if you are treated badly because you are a jerk… But if you are slandered because of His name – you should rejoice that you were different enough for someone to notice.

 

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