This Lord’s Day we will once again turn our attention to the words of 1 Peter 4:12-13, and 19. You will remember that we have laid out a ‘roadmap’ through this passage consisting of four stopping points:

First, last week we examined the truth that the evil and suffering we each have experienced in one way or another is nothing unusual at all for the Church.

Second, though it isn’t so obvious, suffering comes to us from our Father’s hand as a gift that is designed for our good and our joy.

Third, the sufferings we experience are, in a wonderful and even mysterious way, those sufferings of Christ Jesus Himself. That is, they are linked to His cross.

Fourth and finally, our sufferings provide us with every reason to live with inexpressible joy and radiant hope!

On Sunday we will consider the second of the four points above, and then on August 2 we will examine the final two.

Our focus this week will be upon this extraordinary claim that our afflictions, whatever their nature or cause, are actually a heavenly gift specifically designed by our Father for our good. As you meditate upon this passage before Sunday, let me also encourage you to consider 1 Peter 1:3-9; 2:21; 3:14-17; 4:1-5.