Oh, how I would love to be done with sin.
Peter tells us (1 Peter 4:1-2), "Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has 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."
Today, I'm suffering in my body. My back is killing me. Partly old injury, partly too much sitting and not enough activity lately, partly something I lifted wrong, but the pain is constant. But I don't think that's what Peter is talking about when he says if I suffer in my body I could be done with sin. My self-pity seems to rule that out.
Maybe he means that if we can discipline ourselves to accept physical hardship, it will enable us to have the discipline to resist temptation. I used to tell young people, my kids included, that discipline is simply the ability to make yourself do, or not do, something. So a physical fitness routine is a good way to develop self-discipline.
But even that seems too easy. I think maybe there's a clue in the phrase "same attitude." Christ's attitude was one of love and self-sacrifice. So there's something about physical suffering done out of love and self-sacrifice that will enable me to be done with sin.
I confess that I don't really get it - this needs more thought. There's value, though, in the reminder that this Christian walk is something that will take work, and there will be some pain involved. There's a reason that the words "disciple" and "discipline" are as closely linked as they are.
This year, as I try to make progress on my own sanctification, I need to watch for my tendency to like things easy. Walking with God will be many things - joyous, rewarding, uplifting - but over the long haul I shouldn't expect it to be easy.
Peter tells us (1 Peter 4:1-2), "Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has 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."
Today, I'm suffering in my body. My back is killing me. Partly old injury, partly too much sitting and not enough activity lately, partly something I lifted wrong, but the pain is constant. But I don't think that's what Peter is talking about when he says if I suffer in my body I could be done with sin. My self-pity seems to rule that out.
Maybe he means that if we can discipline ourselves to accept physical hardship, it will enable us to have the discipline to resist temptation. I used to tell young people, my kids included, that discipline is simply the ability to make yourself do, or not do, something. So a physical fitness routine is a good way to develop self-discipline.
But even that seems too easy. I think maybe there's a clue in the phrase "same attitude." Christ's attitude was one of love and self-sacrifice. So there's something about physical suffering done out of love and self-sacrifice that will enable me to be done with sin.
I confess that I don't really get it - this needs more thought. There's value, though, in the reminder that this Christian walk is something that will take work, and there will be some pain involved. There's a reason that the words "disciple" and "discipline" are as closely linked as they are.
This year, as I try to make progress on my own sanctification, I need to watch for my tendency to like things easy. Walking with God will be many things - joyous, rewarding, uplifting - but over the long haul I shouldn't expect it to be easy.
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