As seen especially in 1 Pet. 3:10–4:6.

Those early Christians to whom Peter wrote-and its application is universal-were in need of sustaining power far beyond their own. They were in the midst of a world which did not, and could not, appreciate suffering for Christ's sake.

Through those early saints "the Light shone in the darkness, and the darkness apprehended it not." Still, with them as with us, it is most encouraging to know that our God does not expect His children to stand in their own strength-"For My strength is made perfect in weakness." The Holy Spirit, in Person, is here to act on our behalf. Indeed, while here on earth, our Lord trod the same path that we are called to pursue; but He descended into depths-the depths of the cross-infinitely beyond anything we are obliged to experience.

Then let us "consider Him who endured so great contradiction from sinners against Himself," that we be not weary, fainting in our minds (Heb. 12:3). What if men do misjudge our motives and speak evil of our best endeavors? What if the world turn the cold shoulder and receive not our testimony? What if we get no response, no sinner turning to Christ from sin? Are we to give up the good fight?

Let us not be discouraged. "Consider HIM," who also by the same Holy Spirit, through His servant Noah, preached for a hundred and twenty years to disobedient men "when the longsuffering of God waited… while the ark was preparing, "yet with no response from that violent and corrupted world! Peter wrote about that fruitless endeavor in those early ages so that suffering saints in his day, and ours, might not be disheartened "in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the
Lord."

Then Peter cautions us in chapter 5:8-"Be vigilant, watch. Your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour." Evidently this adversary would frighten us by his "roaring," and so discourage the saints of God from testifying before an opposing world!

We may greatly injure our message by the tongue, in reviling those who revile us (ch. 3:10-12); here the "lion" has the advantage. "The sword of the Spirit" is the weapon to use against such an adversary. But even should he devour us, it will be only as to the body- that is his limit. "But if also ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed are ye.. .But sanctify (set apart) the Lord Jesus in your hearts" (ch. 3:14-16).

Really, there is nothing to be discouraged about in our path of faith; for our God is above all, and whether or not our eyes behold any fruit, "we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish" (2 Cor. 2:15,16). For even if in our day it is as it was in the ministry of Christ through the Spirit of God in the days of Noah (as we have seen), still the gospel of God's grace to a ruined world must be sounded out to His praise and to His glory.

It is impossible to draw any conclusions as to the merit of our work while here in the body. For as Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 4:4, 5, "For I am conscious of nothing in myself. . .but He that examines me is the Lord; so that do not judge any thing before the time, until the Lord shall come, who shall also both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and shall make manifest the counsels of hearts; and then shall each have praise from God."

-HERBERT COWELL.