Think Like Christ

“Therefore, [because] Christ suffered in the flesh, you also equip yourselves with the same way of thinking, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin." 
I Peter 4:1 ESV

It’s not human nature to desire suffering in any capacity nor for any reason. For the most part, human nature avoids situations involved with undergoing pain, distress, or hardship. Saying “No” to oneself is a struggle because of the required sacrifice to the individual. Normally, sacrifices are made for a greater good. As we walk out our faith, we realized the greater good is abundant life on earth as well as eternal life after our earthen life.

Suffering in the flesh requires overcoming one’s own will in order to allow God’s will to have full reign in our lives. Our goals no longer consist of endeavoring to seek self gratification to soothe the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. The chosen path, over and over again, is the constant denial of one’s desires and affections. Like Christ (Luke 22:41-44), the struggle can be fierce at times. However, as we follow Christ’s example in calling out to the God the Father for help, His Spirit empowers us to say “No” once again to anything that keeps us from or interrupts the fellowship with. God. The war on ourselves to cease from sin is won in the victory of many battles of  saying “No”. The more we say no to sin, the more we will say no to sin. The resistance to our lusts and temptations grows over time through our submission to God’s will, not to our will.

“When we think like Christ regarding suffering in the flesh, 
our thoughts lead us to cease from sin.”_ASA