"But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are you: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled."
1 Peter 3:14
Peter, in the third chapter of his first book, has addressed husbands and wives in the first seven verses. From verses eight through twenty-two, he speaks to the fact that believers will have the privilege to suffer for righteousness’ sake. This is nothing that the believer seeks out but is something they may face from time to time. It is noticeably apparent, there is joy in suffering for the right reasons.
“But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake.”
Not all suffering is for the right reason. When a person is hateful and not easy to get along with, it is easy to understand why people would mistreat him/her. When a man has broken the law, say robbed a bank, and the court has convicted him of it, put him in prison, he cannot complain because the government is mistreating him. He is there because of his own crimes. This type of suffering finds no joy in it.
“But if you suffer.” There is another reason for suffering, a commendable reason. “If you suffer for righteousness sake.” That is, you are suffering for doing what is right. You are suffering because of the stigma associated with Jesus Christ.
“But if you should suffer on account of righteousness, [you are] blessed”[1] (Decker).
Underground church leaders in a critical Asian country, pray that they and their children will be able to have the privilege of suffering in prison for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake.
“Happy are ye.”
To suffer for the right things brings happiness to the believer. Peter and John understood this.
“And to him, they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:40-42).
“And be not afraid of their terror.”
The worst thing these evil men can do to you is to kill you, and then you have heaven! Do not fear them! Our fear should not be for these men or their threats.
“Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread” (Isaiah 8:12-13; ESV).
Jesus taught:
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
“Neither be troubled.”
Does Jesus want His child to be anxious over what might happen to them? Remember what He told His disciples just before He went to the cross when they were worried and fearful.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1).
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).
What was Peter doing late that night in prison, knowing that on the next day, Herod planned to have him beheaded? Was he worried? Was Peter nervously chewing his fingernails? Was he pacing back and forth, fretting over what was coming the next day? Check it out for yourself: Acts 12:1-6. Now that is faith! This is how believers need to be living.
[1] This is the most complete example of a Greek fourth class condition. It is very rare in the New Testament. Thoughts from Dr. Rodney Decker.