Word@Work 1Pet50 - 1 Peter 4:1-2
Published: Fri, 07/03/09
Word@Work from BeaconLight
NO LOOKING BACK
1 Peter 4:1-2 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 evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. (NIV)
The sufferings of Christ were real, agonising and literally excruciating. Yet we can treat them so lightly. They inform our worship and the wonderful songs we sing; they are the essence of our communion service. Yet we can so easily separate them out into a 'religious' part of life, and silence their message in the workplace, home and leisure environments. The truth is that Jesus was put to death because of our sins, so that we might be free to live a new life ... and not go back to old ways.
To be 'done' with an old relationship means that you never return. To be done with exams, is never to take another one. To be done with sin is to be settled in your heart and mind that you are not going to insult the Lord Jesus, by despising His painful sacrifice - by continuing to lust after the same offensive passions that took Him to the cross. His purpose was to fulfil God's will by His obedience; so that our disciplined obedience should also achieve His will.
But many Christians never properly think about it: they are content to use the benefits of the cross to soothe their worries while they fulfil their own ambitions. So Peter instructs us to take a grip of our thinking. If we say that we follow Jesus (who was totally focussed on the Father's will), is the same true for us? If not, these verses are an important starting point to consider what real Christian living is all about. Then we need to make lifestyle decisions that are in line with God's purpose for us, and be accountable to other people to fulfil them. Other believers at work might provide just the incentive you need.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank you for all that Jesus did on the cross for me, but I am sorry that I often treat His sufferings so lightly, forgetting that when sin is 'done with', it is so offensive to return to it again. Please convict my heart of my responsibility to honour what Jesus did for me by setting my mind to godly objectives at work, home and in the church. And please lead me to the kind of Christian fellowship which can help me to be accountable for the decisions I make before You. For Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
The sufferings of Christ were real, agonising and literally excruciating. Yet we can treat them so lightly. They inform our worship and the wonderful songs we sing; they are the essence of our communion service. Yet we can so easily separate them out into a 'religious' part of life, and silence their message in the workplace, home and leisure environments. The truth is that Jesus was put to death because of our sins, so that we might be free to live a new life ... and not go back to old ways.
To be 'done' with an old relationship means that you never return. To be done with exams, is never to take another one. To be done with sin is to be settled in your heart and mind that you are not going to insult the Lord Jesus, by despising His painful sacrifice - by continuing to lust after the same offensive passions that took Him to the cross. His purpose was to fulfil God's will by His obedience; so that our disciplined obedience should also achieve His will.
But many Christians never properly think about it: they are content to use the benefits of the cross to soothe their worries while they fulfil their own ambitions. So Peter instructs us to take a grip of our thinking. If we say that we follow Jesus (who was totally focussed on the Father's will), is the same true for us? If not, these verses are an important starting point to consider what real Christian living is all about. Then we need to make lifestyle decisions that are in line with God's purpose for us, and be accountable to other people to fulfil them. Other believers at work might provide just the incentive you need.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank you for all that Jesus did on the cross for me, but I am sorry that I often treat His sufferings so lightly, forgetting that when sin is 'done with', it is so offensive to return to it again. Please convict my heart of my responsibility to honour what Jesus did for me by setting my mind to godly objectives at work, home and in the church. And please lead me to the kind of Christian fellowship which can help me to be accountable for the decisions I make before You. For Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
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