Suffering

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.  If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?

1 Peter 4:12‭-‬17 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.4.12-17.NLT

Isn't it interesting that a part of suffering is judgement? What does this mean? Proverbs11:31 speaks to this: if the righteous are barely saved what will happen to the godless sinners?

We don't like to think of judgement or that we are being judged, however our works are constantly being evaluated. It is as if they go through a scanner and any impurities of thought and heart set off an alarm. Those actions that require payment for good and bad trigger a hand that pays out reward and penalty.

Jesus said: what you sow you reap. If you sow to the flesh then you will reap it's penality, if you sow to the spirit you receive it's reward.

If you ever wonder why things happen, first look at your behaviour over time, then you will know.

Bad things happen at times when you are doing Gods work. The enemy does not like souls being saved. Having prayer backup is important. However, if you are living for yourself and bad things happen, repent and seek Gods ways. Amen!