受苦的意义
彼得前书四章12至19节
12亲爱的弟兄阿，有火炼的试验临到你们，不要以为奇怪（似乎是遭遇非常的事），
13倒要欢喜；因为你们是与基督一同受苦，使你们在他荣耀显现的时候，也可以欢喜快乐。
14你们若为基督的名受辱骂，便是有福的；因为神荣耀的灵常住在你们身上。
15你们中间却不可有人因为杀人、偷窃、作恶、好管闲事而受苦。
16若为作基督徒受苦，却不要羞耻，倒要因这名归荣耀给神。
17因为时候到了，审判要从神的家起首。若是先从我们起首，那不信从神福音的人将有何等的结局呢？
18若是义人仅仅得救，那不虔敬和犯罪的人将有何地可站呢？
19所以，那照神旨意受苦的人要一心为善，将自己灵魂交与那信实的造化之主。
信息分享
透过这段谈及信徒受苦的经文，我们可以看见彼得本人在思想上的重大改变。曾几何时，他质疑基督为何要谈及受苦，感到难以接受(参太十六21、22)。但如今，他却明白受苦的意义和目的，因此，他写下这番教导，来劝勉和安慰犹太人及外邦人的基督徒。
彼得形容受苦是「火的试炼」(12节)。在圣经中，「火」通常是象征「炼净」。神容让我们受苦的其中一个重要原因，是要炼净我们的生命；但同时，也是为了使我们渴望与基督一起回到荣耀的天家。我们此刻可能不喜欢受苦，但终有一天，却会为到炼净而感谢神。
彼得劝勉我们，要以喜乐的心来面对受苦(13节)。我们若为基督的缘故，遭人无故的辱骂，反倒证明我们是有福的(14节)。但若然辱骂我们的话，证明是真有其事，那就可悲了，因为我们身为基督徒却仍然作恶；若然如此，世人当然是有权指责我们了。
彼得在本章的结尾(19节)，劝勉我们无论在任何情况下，都要全心全意地信靠神。神是信实的万物造化之主，我们也是祂所创造的，祂当然知道甚么是对我们最好的，问题只是我们是否信任祂。但不要忘记，这位创造我们的神，称我们为祂的儿女，祂作为我们的天父，当然会看顾我们；所以，当祂容让火的试炼临到我们，一定是出于祂荣耀而完全的旨意。
进深研究：
「基督徒」这个称谓在新约只出现过三次，分别是在使徒行传十一章26节及二十六章28节，并彼得前书四章16节。请你查考这三处经文，了解「基督徒」这名称对你有何意义。
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.