Holy Suffering (Traditional Service)

Peter is writing to the believers who have been exiled from their heavenly home to this sinful earth and who are now suffering for their faith. As he has already told them to rejoice in their suffering, he is now calling them, just as we are being called today, to be holy in our suffering. Yes, you are to rejoice in your suffering, but you are not to rejoice and then live a life of futility. Instead, we “shall be holy, for [God] is Holy.” And this is something that will take a lot of patience, endurance, grit, and forgiveness. All to often, the minute pain and suffering come; we can find ourselves wanting to lash out in anger. Like a wounded dog, we want to bite and fight back. And while we are called to prepare ourselves for action, it is not in a way one would think. It is by setting our hope fully of the grace of Christ. This how we endure suffering in a holy way, not by anything we do, but by focusing completely on the One who makes us holy, Christ Jesus. Bearing the pain and suffering all the while looking towards the Lamb without blemish.

 Scriptures (Begins from verse 13):

o Psalm 116:1-14 – What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits to me?

o 1 Peter 1:13-25 – Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

o John 3:1-17 – Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.