"Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter."
In the last verse, it warned that suffering for being a bad person isn't okay and isn't something God wants or enjoys. So here when it says that if, as a Christian, you suffer because you lived as God wants you to, then that is when you praise God because He will accept your praise and strengthen you.
Right now I am in South Korea. Every male Korean here must serve two years in the military. Even the gentlest and shyest boys who enter military service come out hardened. One of the teachers at my school served in the army. He is a Seventh-day Adventist and believes that the day of worship never changed from Saturday to Sunday, but in fact stayed on Saturday. He also believes that like in the Creation Story in Genesis, Sabbath starts Friday at sundown and lasts until sundown on Saturday.
When he was in the army in South Korea, he tried to keep that time holy by living as he felt God wanted him too. He couldn't work or practice shooting. He needed to spend those hours in meditation. The army didn't see it that way and despite his reasoning with them, they put him into an army jail for over a year. It was hard and difficult for him, but he didn't swerve from the path God laid out for him. He gave all the glory to God and God strengthened him.
This is a place where I am study God's Word for myself. I am a bit of a historian so also including some research into the culture of the times and people that I come across as I read the Bible will be here too. This is just a way for me to share what I learn with others as well as feel like I am being held accountable for keeping up with my devotions. I am lazy by nature and need that small check and balance.
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