But rather for the will of God. (I Peter 4:2)
There should exist in the heart of every follower of Jesus a desire for the cessation of sin and the way of this present age, and a hunger for the will of God to be fulfilled personally and throughout the world for the age to come. Our Lord modeled this in the great prayer recorded in Matthew 6:10, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done. To truly pray for God’s will, one must look unto Jesus, who in the face of unimaginable suffering obeyed the will of the Father.
Peter referenced Christ’s example in suffering as encouragement for the church of his day who suffered at the hand of intense persecution:
“Since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same resolve . . . ” (I Peter 4:1).
And the resolve demonstrates our call to the will of God:
“. . . in order to live the remaining time no longer for human desires but rather for the will of God.” (I Peter 4:2)
In the broader reference to sufferings, persecutions, and sicknesses, there always exists a divine purpose for life. In the face of personal hardships such as daily trials, temptations, and disappointments, the divine purpose is just as real. Seek the will of God. This becomes our ultimate goal and gain – especially in moments of sufferings. Peter instructed the persecuted churches of Asia Minor to live the remaining time for the will of God and not for human desires. The obvious contrast represents seeking God’s face ever so intently while resisting carnal desires prompted by this world. This seems for many to be an intense daily struggle. But notice how we are to arm ourselves:
“arm yourselves with the same resolve – because the One (Jesus) who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin.” (I Peter 4:1)
The resolve that Christ demonstrated when He suffered becomes our example and our reason to seek the face of God even in the midst of our sufferings and hardships. In the Garden of Gethsemane our Lord cried out, “may this cup pass from me.” Yet, while facing the horrific death of the cross and the more horrific prospect of being separated from the Father, He prepared to take upon Himself the sins of the world as He said to the Father, “nevertheless, not my will but Your will be done” (Matthew 26:39).
The resolve to seek the will of God, even when life presses in with difficulties and uncertainties, elevates the soul beyond this present world to His Kingdom come. This issue for many followers of Jesus is the emotional weight felt by the enormity of fears, failures, disappointments, and the unknowns. And when one predetermines to shoulder that weight with the human reasoning, “this is life,” then something of eternity is missed. The circumstance weighs down the soul, often preventing the passionate pursuit of God’s will in the midst of the suffering. The human desire becomes a dangerous and passionate reaction to the problems that sometimes becomes manifested in the wrong thing said and the wrong things done. Sometimes this causes problems we never intended to create. And while others wince at our destructive words and behaviors, we lose sight of the treasured will of God in the cloud of our human reactions. But if we resolve to seek God’s will above all things, regardless of how difficult our present moment may be, our countenance is raised above the muck and mire of human reactions, God is glorified, and others are blessed. And as a result, we discover God’s purpose in the midst of our sufferings.
So today, resolve to look above the moment as you seek to know God’s will despite the difficulties. And, although I cannot determine His specific will for you, I can fully assure you that the glorious treasure of His will far exceeds the dark and destructive drudgery of living under the weight of your present sufferings. So, seek His will. Pray, remain in His Word, and follow the path of Jesus and His mission in the world. There is no greater way to discover the purpose of your present moment.
Blessings.
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Read I Peter 4:1-6 and refocus on Christ in your difficulties.
