Nero

As a small group we have been focusing on the life and character of Peter and more recently have been journeying through the book of 1 Peter.
Last night I led our study into 1 Peter 1 vs 3-12. We looked at the living, eternal hope, that we have through Jesus Christ and the fact that we have a sure salvation. Whilst looking into the background and context of Peters writings I came across the stories of how Emperor Nero persecuted the Christian church. From sewing them into animal skins and setting wild animals on them in amphitheatres, to covering Christians in tar and bitumen, setting them alight and using them as garden lighting.

This struck a chord in me, because I saw a glimpse of suffering. We may talk about suffering as Christians, being marginalized, being persecuted. Don’t get me wrong, many Christian all over the world are indeed persecuted and have to endure suffering.

I so often complain when things are not going to great. I did today, and then I thought about Christians who had to live through the wrath of Nero. The interesting thing is that Peter says through all these things we should have inexpressible and glorious joy!

When we suffer, we can still have joy, and should have joy, because of the Living hope that we are born into!!