1 Peter 4:12-13 Suffering for being a Christian

  Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!  Jesu Jevu!

    1 Peter 4: ¹² Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: ¹³ But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
   Okay, is it fiery trials, or are we going through a small part of suffering which Christ himself experienced.  We know Jesus Christ suffered greatly in His crucifixion and that the world hated him.  Why would we think differently about ourselves?  The disciples had followers, but they also had "haters" who would do all they could to deter them from spreading the gospel.
   Verse 13 tells us that since we are suffering for Christ, we should rejoice.  Rejoice?  Are you crazy? Rejoice because I am suffering?  Yes, we are suffering for Christ's sake. We may or may not see it in our physical life time on earth, but there will come a day when we will see His, Jesus Christ's, returning and we will be glad with exceeding joy.
Jesus came down here, from His heavenly throne, to be man in the human flesh, he suffered, died, and rose again so that you and I may have everlasting life.  What little suffering we do here is minute compared to what our LORD and Savior went through.  He did all this, coming down to earth, so that you and I may rejoice and be with Him in the heavenly thrones.
  What a present we are given.  Do you appreciate the present?  Or, just take it with a grain of salt?  It is valentines tomorrow; what great sweetheart's present than what Jesus Christ gave us--- LIFE EVERLASTING -- and all we have to do is believe on Him.  Love you all.
Soli Deo Gloria
Johnny