受苦的意義
彼得前書四章12至19節
12親愛的弟兄阿，有火煉的試驗臨到你們，不要以為奇怪（似乎是遭遇非常的事），
13倒要歡喜；因為你們是與基督一同受苦，使你們在他榮耀顯現的時候，也可以歡喜快樂。
14你們若為基督的名受辱罵，便是有福的；因為神榮耀的靈常住在你們身上。
15你們中間卻不可有人因為殺人、偷竊、作惡、好管閒事而受苦。
16若為作基督徒受苦，卻不要羞恥，倒要因這名歸榮耀給神。
17因為時候到了，審判要從神的家起首。若是先從我們起首，那不信從神福音的人將有何等的結局呢？
18若是義人僅僅得救，那不虔敬和犯罪的人將有何地可站呢？
19所以，那照神旨意受苦的人要一心為善，將自己靈魂交與那信實的造化之主。
信息分享
透過這段談及信徒受苦的經文，我們可以看見彼得本人在思想上的重大改變。曾幾何時，他質疑基督為何要談及受苦，感到難以接受(參太十六21、22)。但如今，他卻明白受苦的意義和目的，因此，他寫下這番教導，來勸勉和安慰猶太人及外邦人的基督徒。
彼得形容受苦是「火的試煉」(12節)。在聖經中，「火」通常是象徵「煉淨」。神容讓我們受苦的其中一個重要原因，是要煉淨我們的生命；但同時，也是為了使我們渴望與基督一起回到榮耀的天家。我們此刻可能不喜歡受苦，但終有一天，卻會為到煉淨而感謝神。
彼得勸勉我們，要以喜樂的心來面對受苦(13節)。我們若為基督的緣故，遭人無故的辱罵，反倒證明我們是有福的(14節)。但若然辱罵我們的話，證明是真有其事，那就可悲了，因為我們身為基督徒卻仍然作惡；若然如此，世人當然是有權指責我們了。
彼得在本章的結尾(19節)，勸勉我們無論在任何情況下，都要全心全意地信靠神。神是信實的萬物造化之主，我們也是祂所創造的，祂當然知道甚麼是對我們最好的，問題只是我們是否信任祂。但不要忘記，這位創造我們的神，稱我們為祂的兒女，祂作為我們的天父，當然會看顧我們；所以，當祂容讓火的試煉臨到我們，一定是出於祂榮耀而完全的旨意。
進深研究：
「基督徒」這個稱謂在新約只出現過三次，分別是在使徒行傳十一章26節及二十六章28節，並彼得前書四章16節。請你查考這三處經文，了解「基督徒」這名稱對你有何意義。
GOD'S PURPOSES IN OUR SUFFERING
1 Peter 4:12-19
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 Now if the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
Message
Here is further teaching regarding suffering. It is also another illustration of the tremendous change in Peter himself. Once he thought it was strange that Christ should ever speak about suffering. (See Matthew 16:21,22.) Now he sees the plan and purpose in suffering and writes a word of explanation and comfort to both Jewish and Gentile Christians.
Peter speaks of suffering as a 'fiery trial' (v. 12). Fire is always a symbol of purifying. God's great purpose in allowing suffering is for the purifying of our lives. It also makes us want to go home to glory to be with Christ. We will one day thank God for the fire, though we may not like it now.
Peter tells us that our attitude toward suffering ought to be one of rejoicing (v. 13). If we are reviled (spoken against) for Christ's sake, it can prove a blessing (v. 14). It would be a tragedy if the things said against us were true, if we as Christians were really doing wrong. Then the world would have every right to say whatever it liked about us.
Peter's final words, in this chapter (v. 19) are an exhortation to put our faith and trust in God, no matter what our circumstances are. God is faithful and he is the creator of all things including ourselves. Can't we trust our maker to know what is best for us? He is our Father. As our Father he will watch over us and only allow fire and trial to touch us when it is in his glorious and perfect will.
A FURTHER STUDY:
The word Christian only appears three times in the New Testament. Look up these references and see what they have to say to you. Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16.