Do You Bear The Name?

Talking about suffering again today. It seems to be something we are destined to do during our time here in this life. Weather that suffering is in the form of bullying, an ailment or some other form of oppression we will all at some point in our lives suffer. And I would venture to say that all of us at some point during that suffering would complain about it.

* if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. -1 Peter 4:16

Here Peter, one of the 12 disciples is saying that when you do suffer as a Christian, to not be bothered or embarrassed by that. He was writing to other small churches that were being persecuted, bullied, made fun of. He told them they could let it slide and to not worry about it.

To me this echoes some words that Peter, being one of the 12 would have undoubtedly heard first hand when Jesus said...

* “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33

And if anyone suffered oppression and was bullied and made fun of Jesus was. He knew first-hand what it meant to be mocked, beaten and humiliated. And yet even during all of this He lived true to his words.

* And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! -Philippians 2:8

All this to say that we may think we have it bad, but it could always be so much worse. And no matter how bad we may think we have it, we should hold to the hope that Jesus gave us and

* praise God that we bear the name of Christians.

and then Press on. Fight the good fight. As a Soldier for Christ.