1. 1 Peter 4:14 (ESV)
  2. Application

How being insulted for Christ is a blessing

1 Peter 4:14 (ESV)

14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

The connection between being insulted and being blessed is intriguing and instructive. Peter has urged his readers to live a blameless life and avoid attracting civil punishments through misdemeanours. Even so, suffering is inevitable for the Christian in a world hostile to God (Matthew 5:11; John 15:18–21). Hatred for the Seed of the woman can no longer be concentrated directly on Jesus Christ because of his ascension, and so the hatred gets directed to his people (Revelation 12:17). To receive hatred intended for Christ is confirmation that you belong to Christ, and that makes the insult a blessing.