Living for the Will of God

This devotion is written by Ruth Anne Reese and is entitled “Christians Follow the Suffering and Sovereign Lord” This article can be found in Ruth Anne Resse’ book, “The Letter of 1 Peter.”

Key Observation. In the midst of suffering, we are to have the mind of Christ and live out the will of God for our lives.

Understanding the Word. Peter has moved through the suffering, death, resurrection, and triumphant ascension of Jesus in 3:18–22. Now Peter uses the word “therefore” to connect his argument in 4:1 to the previous verses and to indicate how Christians should live in light of that. He returns to the theme of suffering. This theme was first introduced in chapter 1 and is then followed up on more extensively in 2:18–25 and 3:13–18. The theme of suffering will continue in 4:1–6 and 4:12–19. Peter also returns to the idea that Christ’s suffering serves as an example for Christians (1 Peter 2:21).

Once again Peter states that Jesus truly experienced physical suffering in his body. Because of this, Christians are to arm themselves with the same way of thinking as Jesus. The metaphor “arm yourselves” is drawn from the military context. It reminds us that Christians should be prepared for the hostile context in which they may live. The defense that Christians are to take up is a way of thinking like Christ. More particularly, this relates to having the same type of intention and purpose that Christ had. Throughout 1 Peter we have seen such things as meekness, not returning evil for evil, not slandering others when they slander you, and entrusting one’s self to God as the kind of thinking that controls Jesus’ action. Christians are encouraged to take up that same kind of thinking as a way of life in the midst of hostile people.

Peter goes on to say that the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. Sin refers to activities that go against the will of God. The audience of 1 Peter has turned away from sinful activities (these will be discussed further in 4:4) and has turned their attention to God. They are growing in holiness and love for one another. These activities are replacing the sinful activities that characterized their life before new birth and redemption.

However long Christian have left before they die or the Lord returns, they are not to live according to ungodly desires. Here, we might think about 1:14 with its description of pre-conversion life as one characterized by “ignorant desires.” Or, of 2:11 with its description of desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. They are no longer to give their time to such things. Instead, the time remaining is to be given over to living in accordance with God’s will. They already know what God’s will is for their life. Namely, to become more and more like the one who gave them new birth—to become holy as God is holy.

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