受苦的意義
彼得前書一章6至9節
6因此，你們是大有喜樂；但如今，在百般的試煉中暫時憂愁，
7叫你們的信心既被試驗，就比那被火試驗仍然能壞的金子更顯寶貴，可以在耶穌基督顯現的時候得著稱讚、榮耀、尊貴。
8你們雖然沒有見過他，卻是愛他；如今雖不得看見，卻因信他就有說不出來、滿有榮光的大喜樂；
9並且得著你們信心的果效，就是靈魂的救恩。
信息分享
每個基督徒都會經歷試探和考驗；但某些人所遇到的試煉，的確比另一些人多。我們很難明白受苦的意義。然而，彼得在這裡卻給予我們極大的安慰，而且，他也道出試煉臨到我們的其中一些原因。
彼得在第7節指出，試煉就像火的試驗。火可以造成非常嚴重的傷害。一個被火燒傷的人，當然是極之痛苦；他的身體或心靈，甚至會留下難以磨滅的創傷。當試煉臨到我們，那種感覺就一如經歷被火燒一樣，是無窮無盡的痛苦。
但彼得卻指出，試煉雖然像火一般，但它卻不會對我們造成傷害，反而會煉淨我們，使我們的信心尤如精金。金會在熊熊的烈火中熔化，裡面的一切雜質便會浮到表面，讓人將它除去，留下來的，便是真正的精金。
神之所以容讓試探和試煉臨到我們，只有一個目的。祂完全是為了煉淨我們的信心，讓我們懂得全心全意地信靠祂，再不倚靠別的東西。如此，我們便會更加緊靠祂了。
試煉的另一個目的，是為了使我們無論在今生或將來，都可以為基督帶來稱頌和榮耀。別人可以看見基督為我們所成就的一切，以及祂在我們生命中的作為。然後，當基督再來的時候，試煉的日子將成為過去，世人將看見基督如何保守我們經歷一切患難。
我們如今雖看不見基督，卻不會妨礙我們愛祂。我們可以在禱告中向祂傾訴，可以透過研讀祂的話語來明白祂的心意；終有一天，我們將會面見祂，那時，我們便會像祂一樣的完全。
有基督作我們的救主和朋友，豈不是很寶貴嗎？終有一天，一切的試煉將會過去；當我們面見祂的時候，我們便會說：「一切都是值得的。」
THE PURPOSE OF SUFFERING
1 Peter 1:6-9
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Message
Temptations and testings come to every Christian. Some have more than others. This is hard for us to understand. Peter, however, gives us tremendous words of encouragement and tells us something of the purpose behind many of the trials that come to us.
Peter says in verse 7 that trials are like a particular kind of fire. Fire, of course, can be terrible in its power to hurt us. What is more painful, for instance, than a bad burn? The pain just never seems to stop. Trials can be like that too. When we are going through them, the way seems endless.
But Peter says also that while trials are like fire, it is not fire that destroys, but the kind that refines or purifies our faith. Gold is melted over a hot fire and all the dross or impurities come to the surface to be skimmed off, leaving only pure gold behind.
This is one of God's purposes in allowing testings and trials. He wants to purify our faith so that we put our trust only in him and in absolutely nothing else. In that way we are drawn much closer to him.
Another result of testing is that our lives can bring praise and glory to Christ now in this life and also at his coming. Others can see now what Christ can do for us and in us. Then when Christ comes, our testing days will be over and the whole world will see how Christ has kept us safe even in times of testing.
We can't see Christ now but that doesn't stop us from loving him. We can talk with him in prayer. He can talk with us through his Word, the Bible. One day we shall see him and then we will be fully like him.
Isn't it wonderful to belong to Jesus Christ? Is he your own Saviour and friend? Some day all our testings will be over. When we see him we will say 'it has been worth it all'