Latest / The Daily Word / July 25 – Arm Yourself with the Mind of Christ
Transcript
- Robert Rosales: Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, Lakeshore family, whatever time of day you're joining me. Welcome to the Daily Word podcast. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Robert Rosales and alongside my wife Yolanda, we have the honor of serving as campus pastors at our Gastonia location. Just as a reminder, especially if you're joining us for the first time, this podcast is a simple space we share each day. to slow down, open God's word, and pay attention to what he's saying. As a Lakeshore Church family, we're committed to meeting with God daily, not out of religious routine, but out of relationship, through scripture, through prayer, and by capturing what the Holy Spirit is doing in our hearts and how it connects to our everyday lives. We're walking together through the Life Journal reading plan. and today we'll be focusing on the New Testament portion from that plan. Now, when I invest time with the Lord, I try to keep things simple, uncluttered, my Bible, my journal, something to write with and a highlighter to mark what stands out in the scriptures. I just want to remind you that we're also following the SOA plea format, scripture, observation, application, and prayer. It's a simple tool. that's found in our Life Journal, not only helping us to read God's Word, but to respond to God's Word. Listen, if you're not using it, let me encourage you, pick up a Life Journal and begin to use the SOAP tool. I've been using it for many, many years and I still use the format today. Now, before we jump into today's passage, let's take a moment, let's prepare our hearts and ask the Lord to help us. Just agree with me in prayer. Lord, as we open your Word, we ask that you would open us. By your spirit, make your truth come alive in us. Give us ears to hear, hearts to receive, and courage to respond. Speak, Lord, we are listening. In Jesus' name, amen. Well, friends, today's passage comes from 1 Peter chapter four for July 25th. And I journaled from the very first verse. I read the whole chapter. but I was drawn back to verse number one. Let me read it to us as a springboard for my journal entry. 1 Peter 4.1, New King James reads this way. Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind. For he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. Now here's the title of my journal entry. I love to give my journal entries a title. Here we go. Arm yourself with the mind of Christ. Arm yourself with the mind of Christ. And here's my observation. It's kind of beefy, kind of lengthy. So lean in with me. This is one of those verses that makes me slow down. At first reading, it almost sounds like Peter saying that if we suffer physically, we somehow become sinless. But that can't be what he means because the rest of scripture is clear that we continue to battle sin throughout this life. So what is Peter saying? The verse begins with a command. Arm yourselves also with the same mind. That language immediately catches my attention. Peter uses military imagery. A soldier doesn't casually pick up his equipment. He arms himself because he's preparing for battle. The weapon Peter tells us to carry is not a sword, it's a mindset. What mindset? The mindset of Christ. Jesus willingly embraced suffering rather than disobey his father. He valued obedience more than comfort. He chose faithfulness even when it cost him everything. Peter says we're to think the same way. Then comes a challenging statement. He who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. I don't believe Peter is saying that suffering makes us perfect. Rather, he seems to be describing a believer who has settled something in his heart. There comes a point when following Christ costs us something. Our comfort, our reputation, our relationships, our opportunities. or even our physical well-being. When we willingly endure suffering rather than abandon our obedience to Christ, we've made a declaration. Sin is no longer our master. In other words, we've crossed the line. We've decided that obedience to Jesus matters more than avoiding pain. Let me say that again. We've decided that obedience to Jesus matters more than avoiding pain. That doesn't mean we'll never sin again. It means we've broken with the old way of living. We've embraced a new allegiance. In fact, the very next verse supports this understanding. Peter says we should no longer live the rest of our earthly lives for human desires, but for the will of God. The suffering isn't the point. The commitment behind the suffering is the point. Following Jesus has always required a decision. Will I pursue comfort or will I pursue Christ? Will I avoid hardships at all costs or will I remain faithful even when faithfulness is costly? Peter reminds us that before we ever face that moment, we must arm ourselves with the mind of Christ. The battle is won long before the suffering arrives. It's won in the heart that has already decided whom it belongs to. Here's a reflection question. Have you settled in your heart that obedience to Christ is worth the cost? If not, the pressure of tomorrow may reveal what hasn't yet been decided today. Friends, here's the application. This verse applies to me by reminding me that my mind must be aligned with Christ and with who I am as a new creation in Christ. I decide to live for Christ, yes, even to suffer for Christ and no longer allow sin to rule over my life. I choose obedience rather than comfort. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ. who lives in me. Amen. Here's a prayer. Father God, thank you for speaking to me today through your word. Holy Spirit, help me to arm myself with the mind of Christ. Empower me to think in alignment with him, to obey as he did, to please the Father as he did, and to live a life above the evil influence and control of sin. I ask these things in Jesus' name, amen. Lakeshore family, as you go into your day, my prayer is that you'll develop a hunger for God and His word like you've never had before. As you do, God will open your eyes to the riches of His word, giving you revelation and life-changing insight that will help you become everything God has called you to be, fulfilling your mission, purpose, and plan for our great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thanks for joining me today on the Daily Word Podcast. I hope this encourages you to stay faithful in the Word and sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. God bless you and we'll catch you again tomorrow. Bye for now.