Go Through Suffering Like Christ Did [1 Peter 4]

 ¹Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ²so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

¹²Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; ¹³but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. ¹⁴If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; ¹⁶but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.¹⁷For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? ¹⁹Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

No one wants to suffer.  We go through life trying to figure out how to stay our of the way of pain.  We have developed a multitude of defense mechanisms to work around the emotions that come with suffering.  But we have been called to something different. This passage starts out with  "Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose." We already saw that Christ suffered well by entrusting Himself to God and letting Him be the faithful judge.  Now we also learn that He lived His life not for the lusts of men but for the  "will of God." 

In the past when I heard the phrase, suffering as Christ suffered, I used to think that it meant that it was my duty to suffer because Christ suffered for me.  Now I see that the scripture is saying that we will all suffer because of sin.  But God is calling us to a different way to suffer well, even with rejoicing, so that Christ will be revealed through us - that is His will, His desire.  He desires that God would be estimated correctly by the way we Christians suffer.  "Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right."

We praise You Father for being our faithful Creator.  We praise You for the power You provide to trust You with our lives in the midst of suffering.  Thank You, Christ, for being so willing to suffer for me so that I may have that power available while doing what is right. Cause me to recognize Your grace and rejoice in suffering today.