Witnessing Through Suffering

In our previous verse-by-verse studies of 1 Peter, we have noted that suffering for our faith means greater intimacy with Christ and God’s Spirit rests upon us. We come now to a third blessing upon Christians who suffer for their faith:

We Have Occasion To Witness

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. (1 Peter 4:15-16)

Suffering as a Christian is an occasion to witness to a watching world.  Suffering for Christ gives us the opportunity to glorify God, to point people to Him.  The last phrase in verse 16–“glorify God in this matter”–is probably better translated “glorify God in that name;” that is, the name of Christ. 

So the point is: suffering for our faith is a means by which we point people to Christ.  We show others we do not live for the passing pleasures of this world, but for God and His Son, Jesus Christ.  We glorify God; pointing people to Him through our suffering.  It’s an occasion to witness.

Each one of us is a witness, either a good witness or a bad witness.  Verse 15 talks about being a bad witness.  Peter says, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.”

We can almost see the Christians to whom Peter was writing doing the same thing many of us did just now as we read verse 15: “Murderer?  I’ve never murdered! Thief? Of course not! Evildoer? Never!”

How about “busybody?”

The word means “to meddle;” to stick one’s nose in the business of others; to gossip or spread rumors. 

Guilty? 

Being a busybody is a bad witness; extremely harmful to our Christian testimony. If we’ve been a busybody in any way, we will suffer for it when we’re found out.

So Peter says in verse 16, “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed.”  Peter again speaks from experience.  He himself had once been ashamed of following Christ (See Mark 14:68).

Yes, the rooster’s crow in the Gospels was a stark reminder to Peter of his having forsaken his Master.  (I’ve wondered whether Peter–in the future–still shuddered every time he heard the crow of a rooster?)

Peter learned from his experience.  Never again would he be ashamed of following Christ. 

Jesus says, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).

Don’t be ashamed of Christ.  And don’t be ashamed to suffer for His name. 

You’ll have the opportunity this week to take a stand for Christ.  At your workplace, or at school, or in your family, or as you talk about the news and world events, you’ll have an opportunity to bear witness to that name, the name of Christ. 

When you bear witness to His name, you may face suffering.  Yet Peter says in verse 16, “If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God.”

Your suffering for Christ is an occasion to witness, an opportunity to point people to the Lord.  So suffer knowing you are doing a great work! You are directing others to the One True and Living God!!