For Americans who are easily intoxicated with “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, the command to imitate Jesus Christ in His faithful submission to, and suffering in the will of God runs contrary to our lust for comfort and self-preservation. But in the eternal hope of the Gospel, this is exactly what God’s people are called to – 1 Pet. 2:21. Certainly, a key mark of growing spiritual maturity is learning to patiently endure suffering in the confidence of Gods’ care, provision, and promises (1 Pet. 5:6-11.) Regarding the need for growing maturity, R.H. Lenski makes these observations, even as evidenced in the life of Peter:
“Not at the end of every Christian’s course stands the martyr’s cross; but no Christian can finish his course without being led from Peter’s youth to Peter’s age and being exercised in cross-bearing…According to the judgment of men will power is man’s glory, but Christians are manly and strong and grow into a perfect man and unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13) when they rest resignedly in the will of the Lord, whose hand performs miracles with a broken staff and a bruised vine-branch.” (Commentary on the NT: The Interpretation of St. John’s Gospel, 1943, p. 1431)
Beloved, “…this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.” (1 Pet. 5:12)
Growing with you,
Greg