Friendship with the Enemy

1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

"In this you greatly rejoice", are not the words most of us want to hear while we are going through difficult times. Yet, this is exactly what the Lord wants us to do; and just so that we get a real sense of the kind of rejoicing James is talking about, he is saying that we are to "jump for joy". Today's verse is a reminder that in spite of our moments of suffering, we need to remember that they are temporary in comparison to eternity; that we have every reason to have joy and peace because we are saved, sealed, and on our way to receiving the inheritance that has been reserved just for us. Interestingly, in making reference to our trials, James says, "if need be". Sadly, there are far too many of us that get comfortable in the world. When we begin to prosper and gain more of what the world offers, we forget that our purpose in being here is to serve the Lord and tell the world about Jesus. We start trying to avoid "stirring the pot" because things are going so well, and we do not want to invite trouble to come knocking on our door and possibly rob us of our "blessings". However, God does not see things the way we see them. What He sees is His children being sucked into friendship with the world and being disobedient to what He called us to. What He sees is His children getting comfortable, and settling into a world that is not our home. Therefore, He must, out of need, allow tribulation and persecution to come so that we are reminded that the world is not our friend, that the world is not our home, and that all that it offers has not eternal value. The bottom line is that without trials and persecution our faith, and walk with the Lord, become stagnant. Trials should be a reminder for us that we have a God who loves us. We have a God who wants the best for us; therefore, He allows trials to come our way in order to keep our faith growing, to remind us that we have a mission while we are here, and that we must stay focused on that mission until we finally make it home. The bottom line is that there is nothing here on earth that equals what awaits us in Heaven. So the next time we find ourselves in the midst of persecution or some other trial, "jump for joy" knowing that it may be God's loving reminder that we are getting too comfortable in our friendship with the enemy.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).