Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
–1 Peter 4:16
There’s going to come a time in your life when, more than anything on earth, you’re going to need to know that God is with you. And when that moment does come, it’s very important that you keep your trust in Jesus. To do less is to deny or dishonor our God.
This is what Peter is talking about in today’s verse. What he’s saying is that when your time of suffering comes, don’t be ashamed of Jesus Christ and don’t dishonor him by doubting him.
Now, when Peter wrote this, he may have been thinking about when he denied and dishonored the Lord. Three times he denied knowing Jesus, even though Jesus had warned him ahead of time that he would.
But Peter couldn’t imagine himself denying the Lord! Yet when the opportunity presented itself, Peter denied knowing Jesus… and he was devastated.
I think this is the kind of situation Peter is trying to spare us from as believers.
At the same time, it’s important to remember that Christ restored Peter… just like he can restore you. So if you’ve denied or dishonored Christ in the past, God can use you again.
In the meantime, pray for the courage and the fortitude to never flinch in the face of trials. And ask the Lord to strengthen you that you might never give up on or deny him.
WHEN YOUR TIME OF SUFFERING COMES, DON’T DISHONOR CHRIST BY DOUBTING HIM.
