Most of us are doing ok. Some of us are doing terrible. But there are some who are doing really well.
This is the case all the time, but it is especially noticeable in a virus outbreak. We talk about what it would be like if we bought stock in Zoom before the virus. We wonder how busy mask and plexiglass producers must be. We wonder about how many new servers Facebook and YouTube are having to install because of the onslaught of online church. They seem like they’re doing really well.
And how do we feel? Are we doing ok? Are we doing terrible?
One of the big themes of 1 Peter, the letter we’ve been basing most of the sermons during this season on, is suffering. In the letter, Peter looks upon suffering and seems to imply that if you’re suffering you’re doing well.
This is an odd position. It is difficult to defend, especially in our culture. It’s much easier to defend that the absence of suffering is doing well. But Christianity is an odd religion. It’s approach to suffering is unlike many others. The Christian position on suffering is that suffering is always faced outward, not inward.
We suffer for the sake of others. But we need to quickly correct ourselves. We do not suffer for the sake of others so that we will be made good people – that would be an inward focus. Rather, we know that Christ has made us good through the cross. So we’re doing well inwardly, even (and especially?) when we’re suffering.
Because we know Christ, we know that we are doing well – even despite our suffering. May we suffer and do well today.