1 Peter 4:1-2 “Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”
Lord, these verses have taken me a couple of days to try to understand. I know that You led a sinless life as a “man” although You were tempted in all was as we are. When life is prosperous and without persecution and pain, unfortunately we are drawn to our base human desires…things You call “evil”. When we are very sick, in a great deal of pain, or our lives are in jeopardy our focus changes. These things have a way of narrowing our thought simply to survival, but also hopefully to You and Your will. I have seen a lot of Christians who have suffered greatly with physical ailments and life threatening diseases who have become such a testimony to others because they came to know You in a much more intimate way. I have also seen Christians who have been in the same situation who have become bitter against You and others who have caused the pain. Pain and imminent death cause us to draw inward.
That is why we have to arm ourselves with Your attitude. When You were being flogged, spit upon, beaten, slapped, had Your beard yanked out, and then crucified, you never railed against those who accused you falsely or those who carried out the orders they were given, but forgave them all because You knew it was the will of the Father to pay for our salvation.
So if we are to have Your attitude, we are to be more concerned with others than ourselves and our evil desires. That way we will cease from sin.
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