FRIDAY October 16, 2026

Living for the Will of God

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
1 Peter 4:1-2

In this next chapter, Peter put great emphasis on living for God. As Christians, we are no longer to live for this world; we are to dedicate our lives to serving the living God. What mindset are we to have? We are to arm ourselves with the same mind as Christ, especially when it comes to the subject of suffering.

The word arm is a special word, because it is only used in 1 Peter 4:1. It is a picture of a Greek soldier preparing himself for battle by putting on his armor for war. Christians are also to arm themselves for spiritual warfare. In Ephesians 6:10-18, we find another reference to Christians arming themselves with the whole armor of God.

First, Peter took us back to the Cross where Jesus suffered for us in His flesh when He died on the Cross for our sin. It was a strenuous, spiritual battle that caused Him to suffer physically and emotionally. Second, Peter knew that the Christians during this period of church history were suffering terrible persecution, and they needed to follow Jesus’ example. Are you arming yourself with that same mindset? As we identify with Christ, suffering is to be expected.

Peter also distinguished between the person who truly is a Christian and someone who is only playing the part. Someone who is still under the influence of their fleshly desires must question their Christianity. Otherwise, they will become self-deceived. A true Christian will no longer willfully live a life of sin. When Christians arm themselves like Christ who suffered on the Cross, they not only become victorious over sin, but they will be enabled to please God by doing His will. Isn’t that what Christ did? He obeyed His Father’s will!

Listen! Ask yourself, “Am I a defeated Christian or a victorious one?”

In Jesus’ name, I call on you, my dear worldly Christian, my dear man who is not right with God, to get to the Cross and get right with God.
~Alan Redpath~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!