Reading Plan: 

1 Peter 4:1-11 

Suffering Well 

Author: Nikki Payton 

In today’s reading, Peter describes the state of Roman culture for new believers. Through the diaspora or “scattering”, Jewish and Gentile believers were separated from their homeland, known as modern-day Turkey, and settled in house churches throughout the Roman Empire (1 Peter 1:1). Before professing their belief in Jesus, they blended in with their friends, co-workers, and fellow worshipers of pagan gods. They engaged in wild partying with drunken, sexually-depraved behavior (1 Peter 4:4). However, when Jesus called them to walk transformed and redeemed, the crowd they once were a part of heaped violent abuse and persecution on them.  

The oppression did not end with their fellow Roman citizens but permeated into the political domain. Nero, the corrupt dictator of Rome, persecuted Christians with the proficiency of a sociopathic killer. PBS’s documentary Secrets of the Dead reveals that “Nero indiscriminately and mercilessly crucified Christians. During gladiator matches, he would feed Christians to lions, and he often lit his garden parties with the burning carcasses of Christian human torches.”  

Today, tourists can visit Nero’s Colosseum in Rome, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. In ancient times, some 80,000 spectators watched magnificent processions, exotic animals, gladiator battles, chariot races, mock naval battles, and the execution of Christians. Today, visitors explore underground tunnels where animals like lions, bears, hippopotamuses, panthers, and tigers once were housed. Barracks resembling jail cells imprisoned gladiators for brutal matches, and the center floor was a blood bath for the many Christians who were brutally executed for not worshiping Nero’s Roman gods.  

Peter understood that Rome’s recreational abuse would continue after Jesus' death. In many ways, it grew more extreme. Christian suffering, torture, and death were tangible, palpable, and a daily reality. How can anyone in a strange landscape, separated from home, joyfully experience the Holy Spirit under constant death threats? 

Peter has the answer in his letter. He gives a robust blueprint of how believers despite their persecution are fully equipped and empowered to suffer well: 

• Prayer: At the top of Peter’s list is something believers had access to for the first time. Jesus’ finished work on the cross enabled believers to have free access to God’s throne. Prayer is the most powerful weapon that aided them to be “sober and alert” to the corrupt state around them (1 Peter 4:7).
• Love: The kind of love Peter mentions is from the Greek word philia which denotes “brotherly love”. Philia or “brotherly love” is not emotional, but rather a higher form of love that includes sacrificing for the good of others (1 Peter 4:8). 
• Hospitality: Christians are called to show brotherly love and be hospitable to others whether friends, family, and strangers (1 Peter 4:9). Christian hospitality mirrors the same acts as when Mary and Martha host Jesus and the disciples in their home (Luke 10:38-42), and when Jesus demonstrates washing the disciples’ feet before offering them a meal in The Upper Room (John 13:1-17). 
• Serve: We all have something to give of ourselves. Once we receive the Holy Spirit, we are given both natural and supernatural abilities meant to advance God’s Kingdom agenda (1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12). These gifts may include teaching, listening, counseling, giving, or leading. If you are not sure what your gifts are, follow this link to complete a free assessment. 
• Preach: One of the final commands Jesus gave before returning to His father was the Great Commission, which involves sharing the Gospel with others (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus said the Gospel was so good that if there was no one to share the Word of Truth, the stones would cry out (Luke 19:40). Peter admits while facing persecution and execution that he could not keep silent about all that he had seen and heard and that the Gospel was worth dying for (Acts 4:20).  

All believers, though scattered across the globe, are united in Christ’s suffering (1 Peter 4:13-14). We are not alone. Our joy is in Christ, and when Jesus comes again we will joyfully worship Him for all of eternity. Even though some are oppressed or belittled for their faith, we can be empowered in our suffering because heaven awaits. 

Reflection: 

• Journal about how you handled the breakdown and the breakthrough of a past crisis. What did you learn about yourself and your relationship with Christ on the other side of your pain? Compare/contrast your past response to a recent struggle. Have you improved in your response? What has helped improve your response? 
• If you haven’t completed Venture’s Serve 101, visit the app or the Serve 101 webpage, sign up for the course, and determine where your gifts can best be used for the good of others. 
• Initiating a conversation about Jesus can be uncomfortable for some. This week select one person, co-worker, neighbor, or family member, and ask these simple questions: What do your weekends look like? Do you attend church? If not, do you want to experience something different and special, come with me to Venture this Sunday! Then you can graduate to other questions like: How can I pray for you? DO you have a personal relationship with Christ? How is your relationship with Jesus? 
• Prayer: Father, thank You for choosing me to partner with You in Your suffering. All that I think, say, and do is for Your namesake. Give me strength to stand up before all men to say I belong to You. Give me the courage to not compromise. My life is under your management. In my Savior’s name, Amen. 

HAVE KIDS? 

Use the content below to dive deeper into the Bible Reading Plan with your family. 

Family Application: Living for God 

• Sometimes nothing seems to go our way. No matter what you try, nothing works out and nothing goes like you want it to. When this happens, it can be really hard to know what to do. In 1 Peter, not much is easy for God’s people, but God gives them a few ways to follow him. God says no matter what is happening we can pray, we can love each other, we can serve others, and we can tell others about God.  
• Something really amazing happens when we live for God and follow Him. Even in the really hard times when we live for God, we can have joy. When we pray, love, and serve, we have joy that only comes from God. 
• Prayer is a conversation with God. What do you want to have a conversation with God about?           
• Prayer: God, You are so amazing! Thank You for helping me live for You! God, help me to show Your love to everyone around me. Amen.