Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1-2
In the Old Testament, to arm yourselves meant to pick up weapons for battle. But here, in 1 Peter, we are told to arm ourselves with an attitude. To "have an attitude" is very familiar to us, and to make this attitude a weapon is also familiar. There are hundreds of books and podcasts about attitude as a "secret weapon" for success.
But what is Peter talking about? The word means intent or mind. It is also translated "resolve." So, we are to have the same mind, the same intent or resolve as Jesus. What was Jesus' intent?
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. John 6:38
Then I said, 'Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.'" Hebrews 10:7
Peter writes that as Christ suffered as part of the will of God, so we also may suffer. That's why we need this attitude-weapon. To expect suffering, to be ready for it, to yield to it ahead of time, if that is God's will for us. Peter goes on to promise that whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
The word for sin that Peter uses is hamartÃa. It famously means "not hitting the target," or "missing the mark." But it also is "the brand of sin that emphasizes its self-originated (self-empowered) nature – i.e. it is not originated or empowered by God (i.e. not of faith, His inworked persuasion, cf. Ro 14:23)."i
A self-originated and self-empowered nature is exactly what popular culture says our lives are supposed to be about. But Peter writes that we are to live for the will of God.
As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:2
Living for the will of God. That is the target we are aiming for. But this attitude is so different from what is popular and promoted in our culture that it borders on the incomprehensible. If we have the popular-culture attitude we will stumble when suffering and persecution comes. Actually, we probably won't yield to suffering as Jesus did at all because we will not be able to see it as God's will. We will miss the mark and be blind all the while. We need to decide now. We need to arm ourselves ahead of time. Like Jesus did in the Garden.
Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done. Luke 22:42 (AMPC)
It is stunning to realize that while Peter picked up the sword in Gethsemane to fight and cut off the servant's ear, Jesus had already armed himself with a very different weapon - the attitude of a servant. And he reached out in love and healed, even as he was arrested and dragged off to death on a cross.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8
Lord, give me the weapon I need – arm me with the attitude of Jesus. Work in me your will, your persuasion. Let it originate from and be empowered only by you.
i Definition by HELPS word studies, The Discovery Bible
Painting by Dirck van Baburen - The Capture of Christ with the Malchus Episode. In the Public Domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dirck_van_Baburen_-_The_Capture_of_Christ_with_the_Malchus_Episode_-_WGA01089.jpg
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