WHO ME? SUFFER?

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. 

I Peter 4:1-2

I think one of our normal impulses is to avoid bodily suffering. Also, physical or maybe corporal punishment kind of went out of vogue in the sixties and seventies. That may be part of the reason why these verses can seem so foreign to us. Early Christians who suffered for their faith in Christ, often suffered physically. Peter and John were threatened before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4) and later flogged (Acts 5:40). Although I believe Christianity is under attack here in the United States, we generally don't suffer physically for our faith. 

The suffering of Christ, not just on the cross, but leading up to the cross is so radical because he chose to suffer for our sins. Suffering is to remind us that Christ suffered for our sins. Life is not really about fulfilling all our desires. True life can only be found in knowing Christ. Knowing Christ is knowing his death and resurrection. That is why Paul spoke of "the fellowship of sharing in his suffering, becoming like him in his death" (Philippians 3:10-11). 

The point is that in whatever form suffering comes, let it remind you of the death Christ bore on the cross for you. 

Father, thank you for counting us worthy to suffer in any way for you. Praise be to you in us today!