July 25th, 2024
by Stephanie Williams
by Stephanie Williams
1 Peter 4:1-2
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God.
Christ Jesus made His way from Heaven to suffer. Imagine the pain and suffering He experienced in the last few days of life. He suffered a catastrophic failure of His lungs and heart. He suffered from thirst. He suffered grave wounds to his hands and feet. He felt the weight of thorns pressing deep into his scalp. He suffered under the weight of the cross. He suffered from falling into the dirt and dust. He suffered the humiliation of being whipped. He suffered the humiliation of being beaten by soldiers. And this is only the fleshly suffering of His last hours. Christ also suffered from betrayal and His friends failure in the garden to keep watch.
Jesus suffered so that we may cease from sin. Jesus did not suffer in His flesh to guarantee that the Christian would not also suffer. Instead, by His suffering, we might not sin in our own suffering.
Scripture says that we are to arm ourselves with “the same purpose†of suffering. So that in the flesh, we would not long for human lusts. That we would long for the will of God.
Revelation 14:10 says, “If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.†The saints are those who are in Christ, those who have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. If you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, then you may very well suffer. From Revelation, we know that the saint may be made a captive and may even be killed. Christ did not come to free the saint of suffering. He came so that the saint is freed from sin. It is by suffering, according to 1 Peter 4:2, that those who suffer can move away from fleshly desire to the will of God.
Where in your life do you need more perseverance? Pray to the Lord that you can persevere in faith.
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God.
Christ Jesus made His way from Heaven to suffer. Imagine the pain and suffering He experienced in the last few days of life. He suffered a catastrophic failure of His lungs and heart. He suffered from thirst. He suffered grave wounds to his hands and feet. He felt the weight of thorns pressing deep into his scalp. He suffered under the weight of the cross. He suffered from falling into the dirt and dust. He suffered the humiliation of being whipped. He suffered the humiliation of being beaten by soldiers. And this is only the fleshly suffering of His last hours. Christ also suffered from betrayal and His friends failure in the garden to keep watch.
Jesus suffered so that we may cease from sin. Jesus did not suffer in His flesh to guarantee that the Christian would not also suffer. Instead, by His suffering, we might not sin in our own suffering.
Scripture says that we are to arm ourselves with “the same purpose†of suffering. So that in the flesh, we would not long for human lusts. That we would long for the will of God.
Revelation 14:10 says, “If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.†The saints are those who are in Christ, those who have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. If you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, then you may very well suffer. From Revelation, we know that the saint may be made a captive and may even be killed. Christ did not come to free the saint of suffering. He came so that the saint is freed from sin. It is by suffering, according to 1 Peter 4:2, that those who suffer can move away from fleshly desire to the will of God.
Where in your life do you need more perseverance? Pray to the Lord that you can persevere in faith.
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