“So, since Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God], so that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living by [his] human appetites and desires, but [he lives] for what God wills.” 1Pet 4:1-2 Amp
In the progress of our relationship in Jesus Christ, there are days when the rubber meets the road. Days where we are called to walk out suffering. On those days there are two choices. I can walk out suffering according to my old man fallen nature, and respond to the situation in my flesh. Or I can walk out the suffering according to the mind of Christ, and in His new nature.
Interestingly enough, the walking out of suffering according to the spirit and the mind of Christ means that I must adopt His manner and tactics, even if I have not done something wrong. So to do that, I am going to have to let go of standing on my own righteousness in the situation.
Think of Job and his difficulty. He had God’s own opinion that he was blameless, but as his suffering progressed and as friends complicated his perceptions, he encountered a time where his spiritual pants were in a serious bunch. He found himself unable to move forward. He was stalled because he was clinging to his own notion that he hadn’t done anything deserving of such suffering.
But that was not the point. He was being shown a way of coming through the suffering in humility and lowliness of mind, that first required him to have an encounter with God to bring him into the proper perspective and help him to surrender his opinion of his own righteousness.
To travel the way of suffering in the thought and purpose of Christ is not just another mode of perceiving, it is a different path. It is the path of the Spirit and the Kingdom, not the path of the flesh and this realm. It will probably be entirely counter-intuitive, in that it is not the path you would choose to travel. In fact, you will probably resist it until you collide with the Holy Spirit’s revelation.
It require you to be open to forgoing all you think is correct about the situation. It will also require you to let go of championing your innocence or righteousness, in order to walk in His righteousness.
Know this however: It is the best plan, and the best way, and it is better to go there quickly rather than to lengthen the suffering.
It is the way of training for reigning and schooling for righteousness – and there are no shortcuts. And it solidifies your commitment and practice of dying to yourself.
Job came to that understanding when he declared, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Let those words no longer be a mystery, for in the long game of the Lord your dying to your-self and your way is a requirement, but in doing so it places you squarely in the Lord’s way and manner of living, and will open your entrance into being done with intentional sin because you have stopped pleasing yourself and the world, and instead please God. Just like Jesus!
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