Thoughts on 1 Peter 4

The title of my blog is Living Truth, thus yesterday when I was reading my Bible, the following portion of Scripture caught my eye. My NIV entitled it Living for God. As I read it, I thought it is “Living Truth” that enables us to “live for God.”

Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because He who has suffered in His body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do – living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable adultery. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the Gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. 1 Peter 4:1-6.

Peter calls us to adopt Christ’s attitude in this passage…His way of thinking and living. He says that part of this means we are to be willing share in Christ’s sufferings. We need to be willing to suffer for doing good. Godly living can and will bring persecution.

Peter directs us to be done with sin, to break away from our sinful life in response to Christ’s great sacrifice for us on the cross (being literally broken for us). Because of His death and resurrection, we are dead to sin. But, because we still live in the flesh with a strong pull to go back to our old ways, we must choose to turn away from our human, fleshly desires and live in the power of the Spirit planted within us. We must break from what our old self wants to do, much of which gives God no glory and, in fact, detracts from His glory.

How do we do this? First, we need to humble ourselves, look deep into our hearts, and ask God where we are still living in the flesh. Where is it that our lives are not giving glory to God? Where do we hurt our witness to our children, our spouses, our neighbors, and our friends?

Next, we need to take steps to bring that place in our lives in line with what Christ calls us to do. We do this by immersing ourselves in the Living Truth…His Word. The problem is, anyone can can read His Word. Obeying His Word is what God asks of us. This is the hard part. Why? Perhaps because we are afraid of what others will think or say about us. We are afraid of rejection. This is where I found myself one day as I was debating how and with whom to spend my time socially. I felt the Lord calling me out of certain circles and relationships. I fought this because these friends were really fun, and I did not want to be left out; I feared no longer being included in the parties and gatherings.

One Sunday in a very powerful sermon, our pastor spoke these words: rejection is protection. What powerful words. They pierced my heart. Sometimes the very people from whom we fear rejection are the very people keeping us in our place of temptation and disobedience. After I heard this sermon, I knew the Lord was speaking to me…telling me He had great plans for me, but I had to be willing to step away and find joy and pleasure only in Him.

Scripture promises us that blessings follow obedience. This should encourage us that the reward of living in the spirit, of walking with Him step-by-step, of obeying what He asks has great rewards…rewards much greater than living in the flesh. God took that step of obedience and has blessed me with deeper friendships from that circle of friends on a different level and brought many new and wonderful friends into my life.

God is faithful to His Word. Do you have something you are struggling with today? I invite you to trust God, give your circumstance to Him, look in His Word for answers, and stand back and watch what He will do. Remember….blessings follow obedience!