Did you know that suffering helps you to fight sin?
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 1 Peter 4:1
Good Father,
We confess,
when we read the apostle Peter’s encouragement
to suffering Christians spread through Asia Minor,
we feel confused by the suggestion
that those who suffer in the body have stopped sinning.
We know ourselves too well,
and we know our sinful tendencies.
As we look more closely at these verses
we understand Peter’s encouragement.
He is telling us,
“When you suffer, look at Christ.
You will see that his bodily and spiritual suffering
earned us the declaration of righteousness
and the assurance that one day we will never sin again.”
We understand that suffering actually helps to
“[wean us] from that old sinful habit
of always expecting to get your own way” (See 4:1-2, The Message).
Indeed, we are indoctrinated by a culture
that feeds us the lie from the day we are born
that our lives are our own,
and our goal is to do what we can
to get what we want.
Thank you for Peter’s reminder
that as Christians, our best lives are lived
seeking to do what you call us to do.
Thank you for Peter’s reminder
that suffering actually helps us
to learn to follow Jesus
even when life isn’t working out
the way we want.
In the name of our Suffering Savior we pray. Amen.
Read 1 Peter 4.
