These Are The Ultimate Goals Of Our Suffering

I Peter 2:20-24 - "But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; …"   NASU 

• To Endure Wrongful Suffering 

Peter is letting Christians know suffering is something we are going to have to endure in our life time. This suffering we are going to encounter is not because of our sins but rather on account of our doing what is right.
 
"…when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God."
 
As you can see from this passage all suffering doesn't come upon us because of our sins. Peter says, there is suffering that comes because the person is doing what is right.
 
John the Baptist suffered because he did what was right, as did Jesus, and all the other apostles. 

• To See It As Our Purpose In Life 

I have had people inform me they are trying to find their purpose in life. I know what they mean.

They are trying to find out what type of vocation they are to be involved in their lifetime, but Peter clearly states: "…For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,"
 
We have been called to suffer and Peter says this is our purpose. He says, Christ suffered for us and this is the example He left for us to follow.
 
The next time you go through a period of suffering I hope you will see that in so doing you are fulfilling God's purpose for you. He wants you to "trust Him". He wants you to know that He judges righteously and He will take care of you as you endure your hardship. 
​

• He Committed No Sin 

"…WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; …"  
 
Jesus never sinned while going through His trials. He didn't use His mouth to curse God or to accuse Him of being unfair. He didn't sin in any way while enduring His trial.
 
Another purpose for us is that when we go through a period of suffering is not to sin. We don't falsely accuse God of anything. We don't cry out God where are you?

We know God knows exactly where we are and what we are going through. God never forsakes His children and we know that for certain. We will not listen to the devil when he accuses God of not caring about what happens to us.
 
We will not believe lies about our God. We know God cares, protects, and watches over us. We refuse to believe the devil because he is a liar and has been one for a long, long time. 
 
Stay close to God and know this suffering is your test where God gets to say to the devil see I told you my servant (your name) would not believe your lies about Me.
 
This is what John says about the devil in John 8:44 - "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
 
When you suffer know this it is an opportunity to fulfill God's purpose for us. 
 
Think About This:
 
People always get into trouble when they think they can handle their lives without God.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago      
    
Minister of God’s Word