Sunday, February 1, 2015

Sermon notes 1 Peter 4

Sometimes we have to choose to suffer.

That sounds weird, but think about it for a second. You are with a group of people who are gossiping and the name of a friend of yours is brought up. Others look at you and wait for you to add your own comments.

You know you need to stand up for your friend and not fuel the gossip. However, that will mean you are shunned from this group and soon they will start talking about you. They might even start making fun of you right then and there.

You can choose to sin and join in or to do what's right and suffer for it.

"Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves in the same attitude, because he who had 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." 1 Peter 4:1-2

It is always better to choose suffering. Yet again, that sounds weird. Why would we choose to be in pain?

That's why we can't see this life as only this life. If these 80 or 90 years are all we have, of course we choose the easy, sinful way. If we realize that this life is so temporary compared to eternity, a little suffering doesn't seem quite as weird when it leads to a lifetime with God in heaven.

Choosing suffering shows ourselves we have made a break from sin. We don't have to live for human passions. We have a choice to do what's right. That's the freedom offered by God.

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