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But to the degree you are sharing the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

1 Peter 4:13, LSB

Peter’s words are meant to edify fellow followers of Christ as they are facing many struggles and persecutions. This was a reality early on with those who followed Christ and will continue. In the United States and most of the Western world in modern times have felt a great level of freedom to practice our faith openly. To some extent, we have begun to see some of that freedom being infringed upon and a push to prevent the open expression of faith we have become accustomed to and it is a shift in the mindset of many. Still, we have not and are not facing the same struggles that were faced early on by the faithful followers of Christ in the past and some parts of the world today. In these words, there is no fear, but hope. We hope and cling to a promise of something greater than this world. We are reminded over and over in Scripture that we are only sojourners, and our home is awaiting us in the glorified kingdom that God is preparing. Our calling is to seek to influence our government and our communities so that more may come to Christ. Our power is not in the sword but in our prayers and we are called by our Lord to not raise weapons of hate and violence but to stand up with our voices and offer our lives for those who are dying and lost in the lies of this fallen world. It is in this hope we raise our voices and proclaim the glory of God and be bringers of His peace into the lives of many.

Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.