1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
Suffering for the right reasons is becoming increasingly rare these days. Because our culture is skewing in one direction, much of the suffering that is happening these days is suffering for doing the wrong things, rather than suffering for doing the right things. Doing the wrong things has God-given negative consequences. And those who end up with those consequences should not be surprised by them.
But it isn’t only the culture’s bend away for the LORD that is causing a decline in suffering for doing good. The Church, and many individual Christians aren’t doing the right things. We are not following Christ’s example of suffering.
Jesus is our example of how we should suffer, and of the reasons we should suffer. Our lives need to be lived in such a way that seeking God’s will and way are our number one priority. This priority would be reflected in how we spend our time, talent and treasure. It would be reflected in what we say, do and think. There is no area of our lives that would not be affected.
But so many Christians, these days, want to live compartmentalized lives. They have their careers, their leisure activities, their family life, and their spiritual life, and there seems to be a lack of cross-pollination between their spiritual life and the rest of their lives. Jesus gets conveniently placed in His box, Sunday morning when I don’t have other things to do box.
But it seems as though cross-pollution is taking place instead. Our careers, leisure activities and family life all seem to move in on the territory that should be occupied by our spiritual life. Our spiritual disciplines are the first to be dropped when something better comes along.
So instead of Jesus having an ever greater influence in our lives, His influence diminishes as time passes. We start our Christian walk with great enthusiasm, but then that enthusiasm diminishes, only to be replaced by the next shiny object.
I think one of the elements that is this: suffering for doing what is right has a positive benefit. Our text says it this way: “whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.” This kind of suffering can help you become more committed to obedience and the holy life. When this kind of persecution comes, sin takes a back seat in our lives.
And we often miss this aspect of suffering. Suffering is a refining process, filtering out what isn’t truly important. This kind of suffering brings us closer to the LORD.
I think this is because we must rely on Him so heavily during the suffering, that His sweet presence is experienced in new ways, ways that cause sin to pail by comparison. Sin is pleasurable for a season, but godliness endures across time.
We need to have this attitude as we walk through life. Nothing can replace the closeness we experience when we are suffering for Christ. We shouldn’t necessarily seek out the suffering, but when it comes, we should not compromise in order to avoid it. Instead, we should draw in closer to Him who has promised to never leave us or forsake us.