Day 269 – Suffering Stops Sin

Today’s reading: 1 Ptr 4

Today we read one of the Christians proposed solution to the question as to why we suffer.  Peter writes:

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1-2

So suffering causes us to cease from sin.  This is something we know from experience.  How many of us have heard of (or lived ourselves) someone “hitting rock bottom”?  When we suffer, we instinctively examine the cause of that suffering.  Often, it will lead back to some sin.  Since suffering is unpleasant it prompts us to give up that which caused the suffering.

Peter tells us another thing that is “common knowledge” but here we see is also biblical.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 1 Peter 4:10

So our gifts from God are for use to serve others.  Again, to the Christian, this is not a surprise. 

Tomorrow: 1 Ptr 5