The two main ingredients of transformation in the good environment of the church life are: 1. healthy nourishment, and 2. exercise – bearing responsibility. Don’t be afraid if there is no one bearing responsibility; you yourself stand up and bear it! You will suffer, but you will be transformed and you will grow.
Another ingredient is being willing to suffer. If you want to bear responsibility but do not want to suffer, you will not grow or be transformed. You must bear responsibility and you must be willing to suffer. I am not talking about suffering because of sins and shortcomings. You are going to suffer for the building up of the Body of Christ! You give your hearts, time, energy, and money to the Lord.
In 1 Peter 4:12, Peter speaks about the experience of being transformed. Our life is growing and our impurities are being exposed. Here Peter is speaking from his own experience when he says, “Beloved, do not think that the fiery ordeal among you, coming to you for a trial, is strange, as if it were a strange thing happening to you.” If you are suffering, this is not strange. This is a process.
Verse 13 continues, “But inasmuch as you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice exultingly.” The sufferings are for the building up. “If you are reproached in the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. For let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler into others’ affairs; But if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name. For it is time for the judgment to begin from the house of God; and if first from us, what will be the end of those who disobey the gospel of God? And if the righteous man is saved only with difficulty, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear? So then let those also who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing to a faithful Creator.” (vv. 14-19).
“Well-doing to a faithful Creator” means to serve the Lord in the line of the New Testament economy, in faith. Let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer. Some criticize those who are bearing responsibility in serving the Lord as being worse than a murderer! Do not be discouraged because of this! “If you are reproached in the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (v. 14). Hallelujah! Who wants the Spirit of glory? Let us bear responsibility! Let us stand up, rise up and enjoy this environment the Lord has prepared for us! What will be the result? The result will be the crown of life, becoming a pillar in the temple of God, and bearing the name of the Lord. Jesus is Lord!
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