1 00:00:02,700 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com. You're listening 3 00:00:13,380 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: to Daily Devotions with Pastor John. I'm John Stonge, and 4 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:22,380 Speaker 1: today's devotion is inspired by 1 Peter 4, verses 1 5 00:00:22,380 --> 00:00:27,100 Speaker 1: and 2, which says, Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, 6 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, One of 7 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,500 Speaker 1: the keys to understanding Christ's mission and ministry is to 8 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:36,659 Speaker 1: understand His nature. By nature, Jesus is divine. He is 9 00:00:36,780 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: God who took on flesh. He never sinned or violated 10 00:00:38,880 --> 00:01:01,070 Speaker 1: His holy nature. But even though He never sinned, He 11 00:01:01,110 --> 00:01:03,940 Speaker 1: was treated by the religious leaders and the government of 12 00:01:03,990 --> 00:01:07,059 Speaker 1: the day as if he had. Yet he was willing 13 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:10,479 Speaker 1: to endure that suffering rather than react in a sinful 14 00:01:10,540 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: way to the expectations of the people who opposed him. 15 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,550 Speaker 1: We're invited to do the same thing. If your desire 16 00:01:18,630 --> 00:01:21,310 Speaker 1: is to follow Christ in the midst of this fallen world, 17 00:01:21,709 --> 00:01:24,170 Speaker 1: you need to recognize that there will be times when 18 00:01:24,209 --> 00:01:28,870 Speaker 1: you will be tempted or attacked. But you aren't defenseless. 19 00:01:29,569 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: We're told in this passage to arm ourselves with something 20 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,960 Speaker 1: as if we're going off to battle. The scripture encourages 21 00:01:36,020 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 1: us to arm ourselves with the same manner of thinking 22 00:01:39,819 --> 00:01:44,770 Speaker 1: that Jesus utilized. Well, what's that manner of thinking? The 23 00:01:44,830 --> 00:01:48,630 Speaker 1: manner of thinking or attitude that Jesus displayed was the 24 00:01:48,710 --> 00:01:52,730 Speaker 1: willingness to suffer for doing the right thing. That's the 25 00:01:52,790 --> 00:01:57,100 Speaker 1: mindset he calls us to adopt as well. God's will 26 00:01:57,140 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: seems fuzzy when we're consumed with worldly passions. His will 27 00:02:00,900 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: becomes much clearer when we're approaching life with the mindset 28 00:02:04,700 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: of Christ. Are you willing to do the right thing, 29 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:12,679 Speaker 1: even if you suffer for it? Do you recognize that 30 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:20,510 Speaker 1: this is part of God's will for you? Let's pray. Lord, 31 00:02:20,530 --> 00:02:22,730 Speaker 1: we thank you for your word. And we thank you 32 00:02:22,770 --> 00:02:24,190 Speaker 1: for the privilege that it is to be able to 33 00:02:24,230 --> 00:02:27,220 Speaker 1: read this portion of Scripture together today from the book 34 00:02:27,250 --> 00:02:30,230 Speaker 1: of 1 Peter. And Lord, it's interesting when we look 35 00:02:30,250 --> 00:02:32,130 Speaker 1: at this portion of your word because we can see 36 00:02:32,169 --> 00:02:37,070 Speaker 1: a variety of things about you and about your will. Father, 37 00:02:37,130 --> 00:02:39,769 Speaker 1: we see that during the course of your son's earthly 38 00:02:39,830 --> 00:02:42,610 Speaker 1: ministry that he was willing to suffer in the flesh, 39 00:02:43,290 --> 00:02:45,210 Speaker 1: that he was willing to suffer at the hands of 40 00:02:45,250 --> 00:02:49,149 Speaker 1: those who accused him and did harm to him, even 41 00:02:49,169 --> 00:02:52,410 Speaker 1: though he did nothing wrong. And Lord, you tell us 42 00:02:52,450 --> 00:02:56,010 Speaker 1: here to arm ourselves with that same kind of thinking. 43 00:02:56,430 --> 00:02:59,510 Speaker 1: to think the same way that your son Jesus Christ thinks, 44 00:03:00,270 --> 00:03:02,270 Speaker 1: and to be willing to live our lives not for 45 00:03:02,330 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: our human passions, but for your will. Lord, we know 46 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:09,660 Speaker 1: that that can be challenging for us because we find 47 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:14,260 Speaker 1: ourselves at times tempted or attacked. We find ourselves dealing 48 00:03:14,300 --> 00:03:17,290 Speaker 1: with all kinds of adversity and difficulties in this world. 49 00:03:18,169 --> 00:03:20,150 Speaker 1: But you tell us that it's possible for us to 50 00:03:20,270 --> 00:03:23,070 Speaker 1: endure all the things that come our way as we 51 00:03:23,150 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: rely on your strength, as we utilize the manner of 52 00:03:26,139 --> 00:03:29,739 Speaker 1: thinking and the attitude that your Son, Jesus Christ, displayed, 53 00:03:30,460 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 1: and as we trust you even in the midst of suffering. Lord, 54 00:03:35,020 --> 00:03:36,839 Speaker 1: we know that it's your will that we trust you. 55 00:03:37,380 --> 00:03:40,140 Speaker 1: We know it's your desire. And as we wrestle with 56 00:03:40,220 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: all of these things, we pray that we would always 57 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:47,930 Speaker 1: remember the example of your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord, 58 00:03:47,950 --> 00:03:50,110 Speaker 1: for pointing that out to us in the scripture we 59 00:03:50,150 --> 00:03:52,910 Speaker 1: looked at together today. and we thank you for your 60 00:03:52,970 --> 00:03:56,390 Speaker 1: presence with us in all contexts. We commit this day 61 00:03:56,430 --> 00:04:01,380 Speaker 1: to your care, and we pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.