November 17
Suffering in the Flesh
1 Peter 4:1-2

  1. Forasmuch then as Christ hath 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;
  2. That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Christ suffered in the flesh for us by doing the will of God rather than pleasing Himself.  We’re told to think the same way.  To suffer in the flesh means that you don’t live to please yourself by giving in to lusts.  Instead you live to please God and do His will.

He says that he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.  Suffering in the flesh means to not give in to the lusts that lead to sin.  James 1:15 says that lust, when conceived, brings forth sin.  We become tempted to sin when we’re drawn away by lust and enticed.  So if we’re suffering in the flesh by resisting the lusts and temptations of the flesh then we are no longer sinning.

That’s what it means to suffer in the flesh.  It doesn’t mean we suffer sickness or we suffer some sort of evil or disaster in our lives.  It means we’re allowing our spirit to rule our lives instead of our flesh and when we do our lives will be full of life and peace (See also Romans 8:6-8)!

 

Confession:

I will think like Jesus did and live my life to please God and do His will rather than living to please the lusts of the flesh.  As a result I’ll not sin and I’ll have the life and peace of God in my life!

Obedience is a tree of life!