“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” – 1 Peter 4:1
Scripture reading: 1 Peter 4:1-11
May God grant that you start this new year healthy and happy! Not everyone does, however. That is certainly true physically, and it is also true spiritually. As believers we often can think, “I wish I were a better person! I need to be more like Jesus!” We know how far we are from living a full, holy Christian life. This discourages some.
It is a sad thing when a sincere person, who wants closer fellowship with Jesus, just can’t seem to find it. Often such folks turn to this or that popular book or magazine. They travel from church to church endlessly seeking. They are always disappointed because they are no better off in the end than they were at the start.
Let us not give in to that disappointment and emptiness. The answer is in our text: Christ suffered for us. He bore our sins. He endured suffering in order to give us, as a free gift of grace, salvation, righteousness and eternal life. Arm yourself by believing this, and then accept what suffering you are called to endure in this life. We must take up the cross of denying ourselves, of abandoning our stubbornness and of humbly accepting the leading of God’s Word and Spirit.
If we are willing to suffer now, then the power of sin, says our text, will be broken in our lives. We will enjoy a closer, dearer fellowship with God. We will learn to be more patient and loving with one another. Be a living sacrifice for the Lord!
Suggestions for prayer
Seek God’s grace to bear whatever burden of physical or spiritual pain that you are dealing with right now. Ask for grace to see that our earthly sufferings point us to Christ, whose suffering won us salvation.
Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.
