“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” —1 Peter 4:1-2

I recently watched a documentary about the underground church movement in Iran, which reportedly has the world’s “fastest-growing church,” while owning no property, having no buildings or central leadership, being led predominantly by women, and facing intense risks of being imprisoned or killed for their faith.

Though the church is growing rapidly, members of the Iranian underground movement explain their goal is not planting churches but rather making disciples. “However, with church growth comes persecution,” said a ministry leader. “Iranian Muslims who become Christian face arbitrary arrest and detention. Most of the arrested individuals are coerced to divulge information about their house-church activities and those of their friends, under the threat of criminal persecution, or arrest of family members.”

It’s often hard for Christians in the West to relate to this because most of us have such comfortable church services to attend and have scarcely had our livelihood threatened as a result of being part of a faith community. Yet, persecution has been one of the central attributions to the growth of Christianity throughout church history.

In Acts 8, “there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” Emphasis added that it was the church “scattered,” not exclusively “gathered” that became the catalyst God used to spread the Gospel like wildfire over the next few chapters of Acts—as well as the exponential growth seen in the first few centuries of the church.

Something that has always gripped me about studying the Bible and church history is the nature in which believers expected suffering and willingly laid down their lives for a mission so much bigger than themselves. Christ had died on the cross and there was no higher honor than to imitate that death through accepting martyrdom (witness by one’s blood). Peter’s words were real to those worshipers—“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.”

Jesus communicated the same idea when He said that anyone who would come after Him must take up his cross and follow (Matthew 16:24). Taking up the cross meant that you were absolutely committed to a sacrificial way of living with no turning back. Persecution comes from forces external—beyond your control. But taking up your cross comes from internal resolve—the daily mentality of dying to self and living for Christ (1 Corinthians 15:31, Galatians 2:20). Both involve a death to self. Peter tells his readers to “arm yourselves with the same way of thinking.”

When a person experiences persecution or suffering for the sake of Jesus, it profoundly changes their view of sin and the pursuit of the lusts of the flesh. As the song goes, the things of this world grow strangely dim and the gravitational pull of the kingdom causes that person to live the rest of their lives “no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” Peter goes on to expound how this way of living—dying to self—positions us to live as aliens bringing glory to God in a hostile world. We are to be self-controlled, sober-minded, loving one another earnestly, showing hospitality to one another without grumbling, and serving one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. I don’t know anyone who does these things well without dying to self routinely.

Oswald Chambers wrote, “If I am going to decide for the Spirit, I will crucify the flesh; God cannot do it. I must do it myself. To ‘crucify’ means to put to death, not counteract, not sit on, not whitewash, but kill… If I do not put to death the things in me which are not of God, they will put to death the things that are of God.”

No longer living for this world, but solely for the will of God is the aim. God shouldn’t need us to face persecution to come to that place of dying to self and laying our lives on the altar of His kingdom call. The fact that Jesus took up His cross for us and commanded us to take up our cross for Him should be sufficient. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.

PRAYER

God, most of us have faced very little persecution in our geographical context of the world. Nonetheless, we should arm ourselves with the same way of thinking as Jesus and those who have suffered in highly persecuted places—to no longer live for this world but for Your will. Teach us to do that daily. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection, Small Group or Family Discussion:

1. Imagine that the world is going to end in 24 hours and you have been granted one wish for anything you want. What would you wish for? Why?
2. What did Peter say about the person who has suffered (1 Peter 4:1-2)? What benefit can there be in suffering?
3. What did Peter encourage his readers to do above all? (1 Peter 4:8-10)
4. What goal did Peter want his audience to reach with all they did? (1 Peter 4:11)
5. So that you can live more fully for the will of God, what human desires with which you continue to struggle will you ask God to help you overcome?

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