1 Peter 4

Partners in All of It

November 5, 2018 by Aliene

As the sun completed it’s descent into the horizon she looked down to her feet which were now lost in the tides. It had come so steadily she hadn’t noticed until she had completely lost her footing. She looked back up to the sky which now held a moon, rising with the waters, rising with her anxiety.

This moment, this realization, hit her harder than expected. She had seen this happen in her life one too many times. A lifetime of watching something beautiful only to realize something awful was waiting to swallow her up.

It’s no surprise, the tides ebb and flow, the waters rise, but why is it that this pattern is unbreakable in her life?

And then came the voice of the father, clear and gentle,

“The rising tides are promised, and the waves something to be certain of. But my Love, the horizon will ignite again, and these waters will pull back at last, that too is a promise. And through it all, I will be right here beside you.”

The Promise of Jesus

Our assurance in this life as believers is not in the comfort of the world around us, but the Comforter himself.

Our pain in this life is even a promise, but so is the promise of Jesus. We see this plainly stated by Jesus himself in John 16:33-

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Everything we hold while on this earth can slip through our fingertips, but HIS promise of victory, HIS words of truth hold all of our spirits firmly in place. And when we look to the promise of hope, the reality of pain becomes worth it all.

In 1 Peter we find more promises of not only hardships in this life, but persecution for the name we claim as our identity in Jesus. We are not hated for looking like the world, but for standing against it as a sharp contrast. We are called to not shy away from this persecution but rather rejoice in the privilege we have of being mocked and scorned for the name of Jesus. That very same name that provokes hatred also broke the chains that were once around us.

The world and darkness may hiss at the name etched upon our hearts, yet still, every knee bows to it.

To live for Christ is to go against everything within us-even death itself! The friction of the world around us is to be expected.

We are not only called then to suffer, but to suffer well. To suffer with rejoicing because to suffer well is to have faith that the hope you suffer for far outweighs anything that could be thrown at you.

We rejoice not because we love to suffer, but because we love the one we suffer for, and he is worth it all.

“Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.” (1 Peter 4:13)

The Third Day Will Come

If we are to be found on the third day, outside of that empty tomb, rejoicing, may we also be found at the foot of the cross rejoicing because we know that the third day will come.

No matter where you are today, do you know that the third day is coming? Do you know that death has literally lost its grip on you? When we are buried by hurt and hardships for the sake of the cross may we hold on to the truth that we will also be RAISED for the sake of the cross as well.

There is nothing this life can throw at you to steal from you the hope that the third day always comes.

We are the heirs of suffering, but may we hold to the truth that we are even more the heirs of eternal, unstoppable love. The unthinkable pain of the cross made the resurrection unimaginably glorious. Your pain and hurt is not in vain, the third day will come.

Hold on to hope and push forward!

Nourish Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-4:19

By Millicent Phillips. Millicent is a student at Liberty University and a member of the Treasured Ministries writing team. © Copyright Treasured Ministries 2019

Pressed

October 29, 2018 by Aliene

Her walk changed to a swim in the ocean. As she stepped into the surf again and let the waters surround her on all sides, joy filled her heart. She thought, I almost missed all this beauty.

The Gift You Bring

The greatest gift you can bring to the world is becoming the woman God created you to be. The Holy Spirit breathes spiritual gifts into our lives the moment we become a Christian. As we exhale by following Jesus with all of our heart, the light of his love burns brightly against the backdrop of a dark world. Indeed, we have a great responsibility to cultivate those gifts deep within our soul and share them with many (Ephesians 4:11–12; Romans 12:1–12; Matthew 25:14–28).

But as we live in this passion, we find ourselves pressed (2 Corinthians 4:8–10). We choose to live differently and find rejection.

We step out there and share our pearls only to have others trample on this treasure.

Make no mistake about it—when you live for Jesus, not everyone will accept your light because it threatens their darkness. Serving Jesus means experiencing ridicule and rejection.

Finding yourself in distress after you have cultivated your gifts for God’s glory naturally creates doubt and sometimes depression. Should you quit? Was your calling real?

Expect a Greater Anointing

Treasured one, are you feeling pressed on all sides today? Jesus knows how you feel. Don’t quit to avoid the agony. Instead take a deep breath, arm yourself with Christ’s attitude, and expect a greater anointing (1 Peter 4:1).

Jesus never allowed the future agony of the cross to stop him from advancing to his divine destination because he saw resurrection on the other side.

Never let suffering stop you from serving Jesus. Instead, pray you will see the situation as Jesus did.

Our Savior’s future crucifixion hung heavy in his heart amidst the background of olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus asked his disciples to pray for him and described his soul this way: “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death” (Mark 14:34 NLT). Have you ever felt that way?

Jesus knows what it feels like to have your soul pressed.

Jesus cried out to the Father.

He fell to the ground and prayed for a way out: “Papa, Father, you can—can’t you?—get me out of this. Take this cup away from me. But please, not what I want—what do you want?” – Mark 14:35–36 MSG

Jesus asked for a way out but ultimately surrendered to God’s will. To be clear, God does not call you to seek suffering, as some mistakenly do to gain their identity from a martyr complex. Nor does he call you to avoid the agony by using unhealthy measures to escape the pain.

God calls you to seek your Savior—and when suffering is a part of your journey to embrace it, knowing you are his child. There is nothing you are facing today that God cannot help you through.

We Will Be Pressed

Often we experience a greater anointing on the other side of our agony. Gethsemane, the oil garden where Jesus prayed before his crucifixion, actually means to press. We will all find ourselves in a “Gethsemane” in our journey.

In the pathway we follow to walk out our passion, we will be pressed.

Much as olives are pressed to create oil, our pressing often ushers in a greater power of the Holy Spirit we will need for our purpose because it pushes us to depend completely on Jesus. Oil is frequently symbolic of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. The agony in your Gethsemane is the very avenue to a greater anointing of the Holy Spirit.

We have a responsibility to handle this rite of passage with an attitude that says, I will not compromise on my commitment to Christ. The glory is on the other side. Never let suffering stop you from serving Jesus. See it the way Jesus did, treasured one.

Perfect love moving each step, Jesus never compromised his commitment. He saw beyond the cross to the glory.

Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. – Hebrews 12:2–3 NLT

Don’t give up! The enemy of your soul would love you to quit right before you break through to the light. Arm yourself with the same attitude as Christ! Never compromise on your commitment to complete God’s will.

What is your passion? Are you using it serve others . . . or has suffering called you to pull your gift back to the shelf?

See pressing as a part of a process to increase God’s power in your life, and find your motivation to keep moving forward by remembering that Jesus never quit in his love for you.

Nourish Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1–12

Completing the Circle

June 19, 2017 by Aliene

The sky held onto the heavy golden sun for as long as it could. Slipping through the fingertips of the horizon, the globe of golden light retreated for the day but not without leaving a proper parting gift. Writing with of streams of orange and purple against the backdrop of wispy clouds the sun said a glorious goodbye and welcomed the bright moon to take its turn to captivate the sky.

Reveling in the Circle of Life

Sunrise. Sunset. Seasons in life. The circle of life.

She sat still and quiet on the mountain top and watched the sunset with great intention as tears fell on her face. Seasons in life. Sunset. Sunrise. The circle of life.

The cool mountain air settled in and she pulled her sweater close around her shoulders and wiped her tears. She felt the Lord’s presence so close and leaned into His heart with an honest prayer to her soulmate as her tears flowed. Her relationship with Jesus was authentic and vulnerable. Her deep love for him was simply an echo of his love and forgiveness towards her. Her journey through hurt, hope and then finally healing was beautiful but in this moment the Holy Spirit revealed it not yet a complete circle. She knew Jesus was asking her to comfort others with the same comfort He had given her.

Sunrise. Sunset. Seasons of life. The circle of life.

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (emphasis mine)

The Women Who Followed Jesus

While Jesus was on the earth, a group of women followed him and ministered to his needs out of their own means (Matthew 27:55, Luke 8:1-3). These women transformed by the healing touch of Jesus, in turn, served Jesus out of their own means.

“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” (Luke 8:1-3 NIV)

Because you belong to Jesus, you have a great capacity to love. How has Jesus comforted you with his words? Complete the circle by sharing those words with others.

God’s Word is a seed that creates a harvest to nurture others. And in doing so, the cycle of God’s love continues to fall on the earth for his glory.

Nurture: to care for and encourage the growth or development of someone.

We were created to nurture, to serve and to lead others by leading them to Jesus. When we equip women to connect with Christ through His Word and ultimately allow him to nourish their hearts with truth, redefine their identity and the purpose for which they were created, they will experience the freedom, healing, and growth that only He can bring.

Nourish Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-11

Take the next step by downloading Nourishing Your Heart to learn how to connect with God’s Word in a way that transforms the way you live.