Well, this final section of 1 Peter 4 is a return to focus on a theme that goes throughout this book.

It's a theme of suffering.

And I think Peter, again, is just showing that God has worked in his life, and this

brash man has become a tenderhearted pastor,

and he just knows how hard suffering is for us and how we can lose our way in suffering.

So he says, beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something

strange were happening to you, but rejoice insofar as you share Christ's suffering that you

may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.

For the believer,

this side of eternity,

suffering is both the norm

and universal.

I've said this many times

if you're not suffering now, you will someday,

and if you're not suffering now,

you're near someone who is. And so Peter says, you should not suffering now, you will someday, and if you're not suffering now, you're near someone who is.

And so Peter says, you should not be surprised. There are four reasons that the New Testament gives us

that we should not be surprised that we suffer. First of all, by God's plan, between the already and not yet, we're living in a fallen world

that doesn't operate the way God intended. And that brokenness will enter our door. We suffer

for the purpose of our spiritual growth. Peter says that here, God is testing you. He doesn't mean

pass-fail.

He means tempering you so you're stronger and more beautiful and more usable. We suffer

...