Pastor Chris’ Corona Quarantine Epistles to the Flock of AIC Ngong Road, in Dispersion and Isolation. 151st. Edition.
Dear Pilgrims and Sojourners,
In today’s passage (1 Peter 5:10) we are reminded that persecution and suffering will not go on forever. As Kenyan politicians have told us, things will change.
Grace. Peter bases his statement on the “God of all grace. When we suffer, it is not unusual to feel abandoned and lonely, as though God has forsaken us. We ought to remember that God had no obligation toward us, in the first place. If he had simply exercised his legal rights, he would have thrown us in hell, because that is what our sins had earned us. In his grace, he offered us the remission of sins and adoption into his family instead. If he reached out to us when we were still sinners (Romans 5:8), why would he abandon us now, when we have turned to him?
Glory- God has done a lot more than simply rescuing us from the fires of hell. He has invited us to share in his glory, not just for a season, but for eternity. This is the second reason we must not be discouraged by persecution and suffering. We should look beyond suffering to God’s eternal plan for us and endure the worst that the enemy can throw at us, not in foolish bravado, but in view of our great hope.
Grounding. Our suffering will be but for a short time. When we are done, it is God himself who will put an end to it. In the process, he will ensure that we are Special for his purposes. The word used here is perfect – not to mean without sin, but that we will be complete and whole. Stable. The word used here is established, which implies being firmly planted. No wavering or inconsistency. Strengthened. Whereas persecution appears to empower the agents of the enemy, the opposite is actually the case. By God’s enabling we stand up under trial (1 Corinthians 10:13). We are able to declare with confidence, “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not” (Lamentations 3:22). Do not fear; the Lord is with you, he will strengthen you (Isaiah 41:10).
Settled- Part of the challenge of being aliens is that we have a sense of unease around us. We know that we do not belong to this world and its people are quick to remind us that we do not play by its rules. God will give us a sense of belonging, not in the world but in himself.
The Sunday School chorus sums it up well, “With Christ in my heart I can smile at the storm…”
Your Loving Pastor Chris.