1 Peter 4:1-2
After Christ suffered for the flesh, equip yourselves with
the same manner of thinking because the one who suffered for the flesh has been
ceasing in sinful behavior in order to no longer live in the remaining time in
the flesh for the lust of mankind but for the will of God.
Thoughts for Today
First Thought:
Peter tells us to be like Christ. Christ suffered on account of the flesh. Christ suffered on account of our
sinfulness. Christ suffered because
human beings didn’t want to hear His truth on spirituality. But He was willing to suffer because the
truth was on His side. We should be
willing to do the same. If we have to
choose between the truth and suffering, we should be of the same manner of
thinking as Christ.
How ready are you to choose suffering? In this regard, how can you become more
Christ-like?
Second Thought:
Notice what Peter says next.
The one who suffered because of the flesh has suffered because their
sinful behavior has ceased. In other
words, when we choose to no longer obey sinful cravings we will suffer. I think that Peter is speaking of many levels
of suffering here. First, Peter is
talking about a literal suffering. When
we deny our body what it craves, it will crave it even more intensely for a
time. In other words, we will
suffer. But on another level what Peter
is talking about is the rejection of the world.
When we choose to deny the sinful desires of our flesh, the world around
us may not understand. They may even
reject us. We might be mocked and
ridiculed. If we are like Christ, we
might even be persecuted and it might just cost us our life. But rest assured; when we choose to cease our
sinful behavior we will experience suffering.
What suffering have you encountered because you have ceased
obeying your sinful cravings? Has it
been worth it?
Third Thought:
Why do we cease following our sinful
cravings? We cease our sinful cravings
so that we can focus on the will of God.
After all, does Jesus not say that we cannot serve two masters? It is only when we are willing to give up our
sinful desires that we can truly focus on being obedient to God.
Are you living for the will of
God? What have you given up in order to
do so?
Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Peter 4:3-6
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