When we follow hard after Christ, parts of the journey will involve suffering—some type of persecution for our faith. Peter’s statement could be said like this: If you are going to suffer, make sure you suffer for the right reasons.

1 Peter 3:17
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

Today, I hear a lot of Christians talk about suffering for Christ…so let’s make sure we are on the same page as Peter.

• If you perform poorly on the job and receive a pay cut, that is not suffering for Jesus. That’s called poor performance.
• If you are late for work every day and get laid off, that is not going through hard times for Jesus. That’s called irresponsibility.
• If you have an affair, repent, and your spouse stays with you but doesn’t forgive you after the first month…or two…or three, the unpleasant situation is not mistreatment. You are experiencing the process of repentance.
• If you blow up your marriage and lose your family, the regret you feel is not 1 Peter 3:17 suffering. That’s called living with the consequences of sin.
• If you go to prison for a crime you’ve committed, that is not suffering for Jesus. That’s called justice.

When you follow God’s will and suffer, you’ll know it. But until then, don’t mistake sin for suffering.

Father, none of us want to suffer, but help us have the courage to do what you have called us to do. Give us the strength to keep following you even if we face suffering. In Jesus’ name. Amen.