Maintaining proper conduct in suffering requires that Christians maintain a Christlike attitude, living for the present in God’s will, knowing that they will live everlastingly in His presence.
Peter was well qualified to write to his fellow-believers on the subject of suffering, for as a servant of Christ he had experienced hardship and persecution himself. People suffer everywhere, but this is especially true of God’s people (Psalms 69:7-9; 89:50-51; Philippians 1:29; Hebrews 11:25-26; 13:13). It is important to notice that the suffering Peter mentions almost exclusively results from persecution by the world because of our faith in Christ. This is confirmed by the word ‘insulted’ in v. 14, and by the words ‘suffer as a Christian’ in v. 16, which means that Christians suffer because they are Christians. Those to whom Peter wrote had already experienced persecution and trial (1 Peter 1:6-7; 3:13-17), but here Peter refers to even greater trials that were to come.
1 Peter 4:1a: “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking…”
We are told this in v. 13 and the first part of v. 14. From the worldly point of view, it would seem strange advice but Christians are a spiritual people, and when we suffer we are to let our suffering be an occasion for giving evidence of the supernatural nature of their faith. We read that Jesus referred to those who suffer as Christians as ‘blessed’ (Matthew 5:10-12); Peter and John actually rejoiced in their sufferings (Acts 5:41); but what a privilege it is to suffer with and for the Lord Jesus who suffered so much for us! (James 1:2, and compare Romans 8:17-18). Now is the time of suffering; later on will be the time of glory. But how is it possible to rejoice in the midst of suffering?
The important word in v. 14 is ‘because’. It introduces the truth that when a Christian suffers because of his love for the Lord Jesus, “the Spirit of glory and of God” rests upon him. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us special grace in our times of trial and testing to enable us to glorify God. This means that when a Christian suffers the Lord is with him in a special way (Daniel 3:25). The power of the Holy Spirit is not only for daily living (Ephesians 5:18), and for vital witnessing (Acts 1:8), but it is also for endurance in suffering (1 Peter 4:14) – and for two illustrations of v. 14 read Acts 7:54-60; 16:22-25.
This is what vv. 15-16 tell us. It is a shameful thing ‘to suffer as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler’ – but it is not a matter of shame to suffer as a Christian. Our Lord Jesus Christ endured great shame and suffering for us all, and if we are called upon to suffer, we are only identifying ourselves with Him as His followers. There is no shame in this; indeed it is a privilege. Such suffering glorifies God when it is patiently borne, as the last part of v. 16 indicates.
Vv. 17-18 are remarkable verses. They mean that these sufferings in Christians are the initial stages of God’s judgment of sinful men. If God permits such drastic means for the purification of His own children, what can one say about the suffering and the remorse that the unsaved will experience? Have you any compassion for the many who are without God, without Christ, without hope, without Heaven? (Ephesians 2:12). As Christians we may be called upon to suffer now, but think of what those who are not Christians will be called upon to suffer then referenced in Revelation 20:15!
Notice the truth contained in v. 19, that suffering can very definitely be according to God’s will. Suffering is designed by God as a method for sanctifying us and training us as His children (Hebrews 12:5-11). Even Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, suffered (1 Peter 2:21 and compare Hebrews 2:10). It was His Father’s will for Him to suffer; it may be God’s will for us. What must our attitude be in the midst of suffering?
In v. 19, the Greek word for ‘commit’ is a banking term meaning ‘to give in charge as a deposit’. This is what we must do with our circumstances and ourselves. We must give ourselves and all that concerns us in charge to the Lord Himself as a deposit (2 Timothy 1:12, and compare Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46; Acts 7:59; Jude 24-25). Psalm 37:5 instructs: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” Committing your way to the Lord is an act of trusting God completely with every aspect of your life. It means surrendering your will, plans, desires and future into God’s sovereign hands; waiting patiently on His perfect timing and purposes.