1 Peter 4:12–14 (KJV)
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
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.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”
The fire is not strange—it is appointed
The apostle Peter wrote these words by the Spirit to believers facing real persecution. He did not say trials might come—he said they are to try you. The fire is not accidental. It is not proof that God has left you. It is evidence that your faith is being refined.
Peter himself knew suffering. He had walked with Jesus. He had denied Him. He had been restored. And later, he would suffer for the Name he once feared to confess. By the time he wrote 1 Peter, believers under the rule of the Roman Empire were beginning to face hostility that would intensify under leaders like Nero.
The early church was tested. But Peter says, “think it not strange.” The fire is not foreign to the Christian life—it is part of it.
Partakers of Christ’s sufferings
When we suffer for righteousness, we are not alone. We are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.
Our Lord warned His disciples of this. In the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Gospel of Matthew, Jesus declared, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” He did not hide the cost of discipleship. He made it plain.
To suffer for Christ is to share in His reproach. It is fellowship with Him. It is a mark that we belong to Him.
The world rejected Christ. It still does. When you stand for truth in a culture that loves darkness, you will feel the heat. But that heat is proof that you are walking in the light.
Rejoice now—glory later
Peter connects present suffering with future glory: “that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
This points to the revelation of Jesus Christ. There is coming a day when the skies will open and the King will return in power and glory. What is hidden now will be revealed then. Those mocked for righteousness will be honored. Those silenced for truth will be vindicated.
The present trial is temporary. The coming glory is eternal.
The believer does not rejoice because suffering feels good. We rejoice because suffering for Christ carries eternal reward. The cross always precedes the crown.
Reproached for the Name
“If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye.”
This is a kingdom paradox. The world says shame; God says blessed. The world says defeat; God says honor.
When you are reproached for the Name, it is not your reputation that is under attack—it is His. And Peter declares something powerful: “the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.”
There is a special grace that rests upon the believer in seasons of persecution. The Spirit strengthens, comforts, and empowers. What the world intends for harm becomes a platform for God’s glory.
On their part He is evil spoken of. On your part He is glorified.
Your response in the fire testifies of Him. When you endure with faith, forgive when attacked, and stand firm in truth, Christ is magnified in you.
The refining of the last days
We are living in a time when biblical truth is increasingly rejected. Standing for Christ may cost reputation, position, or comfort. The pressure is rising. But this should not surprise the church.
Fire purifies. It separates what is real from what is false. In the last days, God is refining a people who will not bow to the spirit of the age. Trials reveal whether our faith is rooted in convenience or in conviction.
The church that endures the fire will shine with greater clarity. The remnant will be purified. And when Christ appears, those who suffered faithfully will rejoice with exceeding joy.
Conclusion
Beloved, do not be alarmed by the fire. Do not interpret opposition as abandonment. The trial is a test, and the test is producing glory.
If you are reproached for the Name of Christ, you are blessed. The Spirit of glory rests upon you. What the world despises, God honors.
Stand firm. Rejoice in the suffering. Look for His appearing.
The fire will not destroy the true believer—it will reveal the gold.