受苦的意义
彼得前书一章6至9节
6因此，你们是大有喜乐；但如今，在百般的试炼中暂时忧愁，
7叫你们的信心既被试验，就比那被火试验仍然能坏的金子更显宝贵，可以在耶稣基督显现的时候得著称赞、荣耀、尊贵。
8你们虽然没有见过他，却是爱他；如今虽不得看见，却因信他就有说不出来、满有荣光的大喜乐；
9并且得着你们信心的果效，就是灵魂的救恩。
信息分享
每个基督徒都会经历试探和考验；但某些人所遇到的试炼，的确比另一些人多。我们很难明白受苦的意义。然而，彼得在这里却给予我们极大的安慰，而且，他也道出试炼临到我们的其中一些原因。
彼得在第7节指出，试炼就像火的试验。火可以造成非常严重的伤害。一个被火烧伤的人，当然是极之痛苦；他的身体或心灵，甚至会留下难以磨灭的创伤。当试炼临到我们，那种感觉就一如经历被火烧一样，是无穷无尽的痛苦。
但彼得却指出，试炼虽然像火一般，但它却不会对我们造成伤害，反而会炼净我们，使我们的信心尤如精金。金会在熊熊的烈火中熔化，里面的一切杂质便会浮到表面，让人将它除去，留下来的，便是真正的精金。
神之所以容让试探和试炼临到我们，只有一个目的。祂完全是为了炼净我们的信心，让我们懂得全心全意地信靠祂，再不倚靠别的东西。如此，我们便会更加紧靠祂了。
试炼的另一个目的，是为了使我们无论在今生或将来，都可以为基督带来称颂和荣耀。别人可以看见基督为我们所成就的一切，以及祂在我们生命中的作为。然后，当基督再来的时候，试炼的日子将成为过去，世人将看见基督如何保守我们经历一切患难。
我们如今虽看不见基督，却不会妨碍我们爱祂。我们可以在祷告中向祂倾诉，可以透过研读祂的话语来明白祂的心意；终有一天，我们将会面见祂，那时，我们便会像祂一样的完全。
有基督作我们的救主和朋友，岂不是很宝贵吗？终有一天，一切的试炼将会过去；当我们面见祂的时候，我们便会说：「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'