Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Keep The Big Picture In View

1 Peter 5:10-11 – And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

THEME OF THE DAY. KEEP THE BIG PICTURE IN VIEW. The Christian life is lived one day at a time. Actually, one moment at a time, but it must be under the umbrella of keeping the big picture in view. This big picture is nestled in the middle phrase of today’s scripture – “who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ.” The reason why this is the big picture is because the ultimate goal of everything is the eternal glory in Christ. And should we not keep this big picture view in living out the Christian life, then the “little picture” will consume us, distract us, rob us of our joy, and produce a complaining heart within us. The “little picture” is the opening words of today’s scripture – “And after you have suffered a little while”.

No one likes to suffer. No one. I am still waiting for the phone call or email from a fellow sheep that says or writes, “Pastor Jim, I really need to see you. I want to allow you to rejoice with me in my suffering I am currently experiencing.” And I have not sought out a close brother to set up a time of fellowship to worship together over the suffering in my life. Our sinfulness rebels against suffering. Our flesh screams, “No way. We are not going to do this. We are going to find an escape from this unbearable pain.” The world, not only of Christians, but non-Christians too, is constantly seeking ways to avoid suffering. Whether it be busyness to mask the inner pain; drugs and alcohol to numb us from the pain, or simply aggressive steps to remove the circumstances, situation, or relationship causing our suffering. It is not difficult to understand the world of unbelievers dealing with suffering like this. They have no Jesus to go to or the spiritual insight to see beyond the pain to the purposes of suffering. For us, Christ’s people, if we act like the world in dealing with suffering by avoidance, attempts to ignore or remove it, these attempts actually boil down to a rebellious response to what God is doing in our lives for His glory and our good. So, as not to dishonor the Lord when the inevitable suffering comes into our lives, we need to heed Peter’s advice in today’s scripture and keep the “Big Picture” in view as we suffer. Let’s consider two ways to do that and thus please the Lord when we are called to suffer.

First, the “Big Picture” of the Christian life and suffering is simply this – it is momentary. Peter writes, “After you have suffered a little while.” I know this is hard when in the throes of deep spiritual suffering and inward turmoil, but really, it will be of short duration. The Apostle Paul tells us, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). We simply cannot enjoy the Christ and the Christian life during times of suffering if we don’t interpret everything through the lens of eternity. Friends, everything, even life’s pleasures, even life’s sufferings, are fleeting. We are rushing quickly to eternity. Keep this “Big Picture” in our hearts and minds. To do so will ensure a proper response to our sufferings. And that leads to another way to keep the “Big Picture” in the forefront of living out the Christian life.

In order to respond to suffering and the Christian life with a “Big Picture” mentality, we must remember all things, including our suffering, is to bring eternal glory to Christ. Please don’t let the familiar phrase we often use, “For the glory of God”, lose its wonder, “punch” and application in the Christian life. It is easy to bellow that out during times of heightened spiritual experience, but what about in tense and suffering times? We must consistently ask the Spirit of God to keep the supremacy and exaltation of the Lord Jesus as the chief motivator in how we live life. Yes, in the daily routines we are called to but also in the suffering we are called to. If we can keep His glory, the “Big Picture” of why everything exists in our hearts and minds, we will grow more and more honoring to the Lord during times of suffering. May God help us to truly live out our lives keeping the “Big Picture” in view. It will be a blessing to us and those around us if we do.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to see beyond the felt in my walk with You so I can see the good purposes in my suffering.”

QUOTE: “Suffering is not only inevitable in this life, but necessary as God uses it to mold us like His Suffering Son”