herlucidlife

“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”‭‭ 1Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭5

Initially I thought God meant suffering as in illness or persecution for being His child. Then I thought about how temptation physically hurts. When I’m tempted with my evil desires; lust, eating unhealthy, isolation, acting in my own will, anything outside of God. When that overwhelming feeling comes to my flesh and I do not let it out or I allow it to build up it is suffering. Sometimes I force myself to sin. Not acting on sin, I’ve felt that pain within my body. Temptation is merely a feeling, a thought and it passes. Doing my best to live for God has shown to be difficult and I am not alone. 

Every morning I surrender my thoughts and my will to Christ. To give me eyes and ears to do His work. This verse is not talking about the occasional sin we all deal with but a lifestyle of sin. For a lifestyle of sin is completely void of Christ. He goes on to list some of the behaviors of those separated from Him. I struggle with lust. I’ve noticed that when I’m anxious, sad, or very low in spirit my coping mechanism is to turn to this thing. I’ve learned that struggling with something while wanting to turn it over is not the same as not struggling at all. The internal battle shows I want a godly life. Those with a lifestyle of sin no longer battle internally. 

Sharing the gospel is all the more important because it’s relighting a fire that has gone dim or died, it also keeps the believers’ fire bright. There was a time in my life when drinking and smoking was the cool thing to do. Constantly being asked if I want to drink or smoke or why I don’t do either? Most people don’t know any better but I noticed the group excitement when I began drinking and smoking. It was celebrated when I started doing those things, even having sex. Celebrating a lifestyle outside of God is a main characteristic of the lost. I too was once lost and I want others to know they don’t have to be lost ever again. We can always come back to God, we can always stick and stay. 

Judgment comes from the Lord. What we do to each other is not true judgment, it’s merely gossip and back talking. Correction is done in love, in private if possible. God’s judgment has a consequence behind it. I don’t point the finger at others for their sins because Lord knows I struggle with my own. As Christ corrects me, that gives the opportunity for me to come alongside others and do life together. We are in this together until God says otherwise.