1st Peter 4:1. “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.”
THINK LIKE CHRIST. He’s been through whatever way you will pass His life down here was proof – That in His body at Him every lot was cast Hoping He would endure enough Of every form of human suffering That He would turn away from the cost Of sin’s awful debt He alone could pay That we could be saved – not lost.
To a lesser degree His sufferings we must share When we represent our Lord to the world. Our minds must go past what at the moment we bear So, the banner of the cross can be unfurled. It will never be popular to suffer for Christ Sinful flesh avoids suffering if it can. But it is life’s highest privilege to identify with Him Who suffered in His flesh as a man.
The suffering may be physical it may be short or long, It may attack emotions through the family and break your heart. But the Lord when down here often had to suffer alone In poverty and hunger, in soul and physical pain He remained true to the reason He was sent. Sin loses its hold on us when we do the same Following His example and the way He went.
“O God, I thank Thee for the grace given to meet every situation, every temptation and every obligation that comes my way. Help me to lay hold on Thy strength in my weakness. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
1Peter 4:1. “Forasmuch then as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin:” ARM YOURSELVES. It was anticipated, necessary, unavoidable – He was not caught unaware by His suffering. In the flesh, as a man, pain, anguish of body, soul and spirit – it was all part of His suffering. In His mind He was prepared because there was a reason for it – His suffering. It had to be, there was no other way, human sin made it happen - His suffering. It was imposed by wicked men, supported by easily swayed people – His suffering. It was consistent with the will of God; it was known by Him – His suffering. He was just and was taking the place of the unjust – in His suffering. He knew the reason; He was willing to endure the consequences – by His suffering. There was no other person, no one capable, no other substitute – to take His suffering. His soul was troubled because He could not be saved – from the hour of His suffering. He was troubled in His spirit as He anticipated the separation from God – by His suffering. His body was troubled by the pain, the abuse, the weight of sin’s cost – when He suffered.
Yet He was armed in His mind – prepared in every way, for the time of His suffering led to the time of His glory in resurrection, ascension and dominion in the future. His face was set as a flint, the mirror of the strength of His mind as He anticipated His suffering and the glory that should follow.
Yet He was armed in His mind - as He tasted death for every man. The act of separation from God was a bitter taste and His visage was marred more than any man’s, because of the high cost of bearing our sins in His own body as He passed through the hours of His suffering.
Yet He was armed in His mind - as He saw beyond the cross, the death – to the time when He would bring many sons to glory with Him. Then He and the children of faith in Him would share together the new life of God without limitations.
The joy of presenting a finished work to God and the bride of His love-gift would be presented as a chaste virgin to Him – the arming of the mind gave Him the willingness to endure. The cost of faith, the joy, the life of God to live with vigor, vision and with grace – Will mean suffering will happen – arm yourself with the mind of Christ.
Godliness, Christ-likeness, heavenly citizenship with the eye on the future – Will mean suffering will happen – arm yourself with the mind of Christ. Testimony: public and private, to the many and the few, whether accepted or not – Will mean suffering will happen – arm yourself with the mind of Christ.
The daily walk against the tide of human opinion and popularity that we crave – Will mean suffering will happen – arm yourself with the mind of Christ. Opposition to the enticement of sin and the voice of natural human reasoning – Will mean suffering will happen – arm yourself with the mind of Christ.
“Father of hope and love and grace: I am glad for the assurance of the Word of God making clear that the choice to suffer rather than to yield to the pressures of sin is available to the trusting believer who knows Thee. I need to be continually reminded of the ability to arm the mind. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”