Are You Armed and Ready to Suffer Like Christ?

1 Peter 4:1-2

Believers are God’s representatives on earth. Christ suffered in the flesh for us. Because we are in a spiritual battle, we must arm ourselves like warriors of Christ’s with the mind of Christ. That’s what Peter commanded us to do in verse one: “…arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” How can we arm ourselves? We should long for the pure milk of the word like newborn babies so that it will strengthen us, and we may grow up in our salvation (1Peter 2:2). If we never grow up in God’s word, we will never be able to endure suffering. No one ever wants to experience the pain of suffering – abuse, sickness, fear, hunger, desertion, infidelity, and etc. The world won’t understand how you endure because they see through the flesh. Once we humble ourselves to the will of God, being like-minded with Christ, our sole purpose is to please God. Yet we sometimes fall short of giving God praise and honor He’s due. Remember, suffering isn’t unique to believers; everyone will experience it in their lifetime. Believers, however, have God’s blessed assurance that if we wholeheartedly trust Him, He will see us through.

When we submitted ourselves to the will of God, we were united with Christ and stopped pleasing the world. “Believers can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living for human appetites and desires, but [lives] for the will and purpose of God” (Peter 4:2, AMP). We have spent far too much time satisfying our fleshly desires. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1). This is another way to be armed and ready to suffer like Christ. It’s one thing to say: “I’m armed and ready.” It’s another to stand when the tests come. Glory!