📖 Word For The Day: Trust God’s Sovereign Power

Today’s Word for the Day is taken from 1 Peter 4:19. For the past few days, we have been discussing the normal life of suffering for the Christian. We’ll finish the discussion today knowing the Bible has much more to say on the subject.

WHAT:
As you read 1 Peter 4:19, notice Peter’s encouragement and his exhortation at the end of verse 19. First Peter encourages us to entrust our souls to God, a “faithful Creator”. God is faithful to His promises, and God has demonstrated His all-powerful ability to keep His promises by His act of creating the universe in 6 days. Peter exhorts us to trust God during times of suffering “while doing good”. Do you see the principle for today? We can trust God’s Sovereign Power during times of suffering and respond with faithful obedience.

SO WHAT:
God has left us with several promises of what he’s doing during our times of suffering. Sometimes we suffer because of the evil done to us by other people. God turns that suffering into good ( see Genesis 50:20). God uses suffering to conform us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:28). God uses suffering to prepare us for living out our faith (James 1:2-4). God uses suffering as an opportunity to proclaim the gospel (1 Peter 3:13-15). God used suffering In Paul’s life for the advancement of the gospel (Philippians 1:12). In all of this God promises to never abandon us ( Hebrews 3:5-6). Knowing God is faithful to these promises and able to keep them, we are free to serve Him in obedience.

NOW WHAT:
What is our normal response to suffering? Is it to pray to ask God to end the suffering NOW? Is it to complain? Do we respond with anger and bitterness? God’s Word tells us to respond differently. Let’s trust God and let Him deal with the circumstances causing the suffering knowing He has promised to care for us and bless us in those circumstances and let’s respond to Him in loving obedience.

Have a great and godly day!
Pastor Tim