1 00:00:02,690 --> 00:00:13,770 Speaker 1: Life Audio Hello, thank you for listening to your daily 2 00:00:13,830 --> 00:00:17,690 Speaker 1: Bible verse, the podcast that examines one verse each day 3 00:00:18,070 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: to learn more about God and His will for us. 4 00:00:20,890 --> 00:00:23,799 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Shaka Hines, and after this short word 5 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: from our sponsor, we'll dive into today's Bible verse in 6 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:42,620 Speaker 1: 1 Peter 4, verse 19. Today's Bible verse is 1 7 00:00:42,620 --> 00:00:47,500 Speaker 1: Peter 4, verse 19. So then those who suffer according 8 00:00:47,540 --> 00:00:51,220 Speaker 1: to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful creator 9 00:00:51,740 --> 00:00:56,270 Speaker 1: and continue to do good. Edith Cavell was a British 10 00:00:56,330 --> 00:00:59,670 Speaker 1: nurse who served during World War I. While working in 11 00:00:59,750 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: German-occupied Belgium, she treated both Allied and German soldiers with 12 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:09,119 Speaker 1: compassion and courage. Now, when German forces took control of Brussels, 13 00:01:09,780 --> 00:01:14,900 Speaker 1: she secretly helped more than 200 Allied soldiers escape to safety. 14 00:01:15,220 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: But in 1915, she was betrayed. Her actions then were discovered. 15 00:01:20,380 --> 00:01:25,340 Speaker 1: She was arrested, tried for treason, and despite worldwide pleas 16 00:01:25,380 --> 00:01:30,230 Speaker 1: for mercy, executed by firing squad. The night before her death, 17 00:01:30,490 --> 00:01:33,810 Speaker 1: Edith met with her friend, the Reverend Gone. He later 18 00:01:33,870 --> 00:01:38,060 Speaker 1: recorded her words, which still move hearts today. But this 19 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,580 Speaker 1: I would say, Edith said, standing as I do in 20 00:01:41,660 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: view of God and eternity, I realize that patriotism is 21 00:01:46,700 --> 00:01:52,610 Speaker 1: not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone. Now, 22 00:01:52,610 --> 00:01:56,170 Speaker 1: 1 Peter is a letter written to multiple churches in 23 00:01:56,220 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: the Roman province of Asia Minor or modern-day Turkey. Peter 24 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: wrote the letter to encourage the non-Jewish Christians who were 25 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 1: facing severe persecution at the hands of the Romans. He 26 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:14,270 Speaker 1: wanted them to remain faithful. In 1 Peter 4.19, the suffering, though, 27 00:02:14,290 --> 00:02:17,450 Speaker 1: that Peter speaks about, it's not the general suffering that 28 00:02:17,490 --> 00:02:21,830 Speaker 1: just comes with life. but specifically the suffering one might 29 00:02:21,950 --> 00:02:26,769 Speaker 1: face for doing the good works of Christ. Now, those 30 00:02:26,830 --> 00:02:31,019 Speaker 1: who suffer according to God's will. This phrase doesn't mean 31 00:02:31,060 --> 00:02:35,180 Speaker 1: that God enjoys or causes suffering in a cruel sense, 32 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:39,540 Speaker 1: but rather that suffering can occur within the bounds of 33 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:45,239 Speaker 1: God's sovereign plan. According to 1 Peter 1, 7-9, suffering 34 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:49,260 Speaker 1: can be used to purify our faith to bear witness 35 00:02:49,300 --> 00:02:52,820 Speaker 1: to the truth of Christ and to fulfill God's purposes. 36 00:02:53,810 --> 00:02:57,750 Speaker 1: So those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves. 37 00:02:58,310 --> 00:03:01,930 Speaker 1: The Greek word used here means to entrust or to 38 00:03:02,010 --> 00:03:06,329 Speaker 1: hand over for safekeeping. It's the same verb used by 39 00:03:06,450 --> 00:03:10,450 Speaker 1: Jesus in Luke 23 verse 46 when he speaks his 40 00:03:10,570 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 1: final words on the cross. Jesus called out with a 41 00:03:14,030 --> 00:03:19,370 Speaker 1: loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit. my spirit. 42 00:03:20,290 --> 00:03:24,850 Speaker 1: This is the act of handing over the situation, the hardship, 43 00:03:24,870 --> 00:03:31,690 Speaker 1: the people, the persecution, indeed our very lives. To whom? 44 00:03:32,590 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: To their faithful creator. God is faithful. He always keeps 45 00:03:39,460 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: his promises and he's the creator. He made all things. 46 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:49,310 Speaker 1: He's sovereign and he's powerful enough to care for his creation. 47 00:03:49,850 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: So in the meantime, what should the one suffering for 48 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:59,100 Speaker 1: being like Christ do? 1 Peter says, continue to do good. 49 00:03:59,980 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: Suffering should never be a reason to withdraw or as 50 00:04:03,780 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: Edith Cavell said, have hatred or bitterness towards anyone. So 51 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,150 Speaker 1: 1 Peter reminds us that God's will for his people 52 00:04:13,590 --> 00:04:18,600 Speaker 1: does not exclude suffering. And I think that we as 53 00:04:18,740 --> 00:04:25,140 Speaker 1: Christians need to hear that because oftentimes we become Christians 54 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: and we have this idea that suddenly life is going 55 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,170 Speaker 1: to be easy. But as a matter of fact, the 56 00:04:32,230 --> 00:04:36,430 Speaker 1: Apostle Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3 verse 12, in fact, 57 00:04:36,770 --> 00:04:40,170 Speaker 1: everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ 58 00:04:40,250 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: Jesus will be persecuted. Suffering, persecution for Christ is a promise. 59 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: But God will use our suffering for him as a 60 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: means of sanctification and testimony. And the faith demonstrated when 61 00:04:59,900 --> 00:05:02,980 Speaker 1: we commit ourselves to God is the same faith God 62 00:05:03,060 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: had when he surrendered his life. It's not passive resignation, 63 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:12,020 Speaker 1: but it's active trust. It is handing over our lives 64 00:05:12,060 --> 00:05:16,500 Speaker 1: to the one who never fails his creation. So as 65 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:21,779 Speaker 1: believers today, 1 Peter challenges us to first accept suffering 66 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:26,260 Speaker 1: for Christ without despair, but to recognize that God has 67 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:30,270 Speaker 1: a greater plan. Like Edith Cavell, we're called to entrust 68 00:05:30,390 --> 00:05:33,909 Speaker 1: our lives to the Creator who made us and knows 69 00:05:34,089 --> 00:05:37,450 Speaker 1: the end from the beginning. When we choose to keep 70 00:05:37,529 --> 00:05:41,410 Speaker 1: doing good, to love, to serve, to forgive in the 71 00:05:41,470 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: face of hardship, we reflect the very heart of Christ. 72 00:05:47,130 --> 00:05:51,479 Speaker 1: So today, if you're facing difficulty for doing what's right, 73 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:56,700 Speaker 1: remember your faithful creator has not forgotten you. 74 00:05:57,680 --> 00:05:58,620 Speaker 2: Hear that again. 75 00:05:59,900 --> 00:06:06,300 Speaker 1: Suffering does not mean that God has forgotten you. In 76 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:12,039 Speaker 1: light of your suffering, Keep doing good. God will redeem 77 00:06:12,380 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: every act of courage and every moment of pain for 78 00:06:16,300 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: his glory. Let's pray. Father, thank you so much that 79 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 1: you are with us in the middle of suffering. We understand, 80 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: we hear your words that we will suffer for doing 81 00:06:32,940 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 1: good on your behalf. those who want to live a 82 00:06:36,860 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Peter wants 83 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: us to be reminded so we don't act like something 84 00:06:44,620 --> 00:06:48,540 Speaker 1: strange or bizarre is happening to us when we suffer 85 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:53,469 Speaker 1: for you. Abba, I ask that you would strengthen us 86 00:06:54,010 --> 00:06:58,169 Speaker 1: with your encouragement, with your grace, with your presence, so 87 00:06:58,190 --> 00:07:02,250 Speaker 1: when we do suffer for doing good, we can turn 88 00:07:02,330 --> 00:07:06,890 Speaker 1: around and bless those who persecute us, God, and that 89 00:07:06,930 --> 00:07:10,750 Speaker 1: we can continue to do good. I pray for those 90 00:07:10,810 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 1: of us who are struggling right now, who are in 91 00:07:13,830 --> 00:07:20,100 Speaker 1: the middle of severe persecution, facing hardship on your behalf, God, 92 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: because of our faith. I pray, Lord God, that your 93 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:28,830 Speaker 1: grace would fall on their head. I pray, Holy Spirit, 94 00:07:28,870 --> 00:07:32,050 Speaker 1: that your presence would Fill them up with your joy, 95 00:07:32,170 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 1: an inexplicable joy, the joy that only can come from you. 96 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,420 Speaker 1: I pray, Father, that your presence would wrap around them, 97 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: surround them like a cloak, even now, Lord Jesus. And 98 00:07:44,580 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: I pray, God, that they would hear the very words 99 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 1: from your mouth. They are loved. They are seen. 100 00:07:50,660 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 2: They are not forgotten. And that you will be with them. 101 00:07:55,740 --> 00:08:00,100 Speaker 2: And well done, faithful sir. We love you, Lord. We 102 00:08:00,140 --> 00:08:03,530 Speaker 2: commit our lives to you. It's in Jesus' name we pray. 103 00:08:04,450 --> 00:08:04,730 Speaker 1: Amen.