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
“We want to avoid suffering, death, sin, ashes. But we live in a world crushed and broken and torn, a world God himself visited to redeem. We receive his poured-out life, and being allowed the high privilege of suffering with him, may then pour ourselves out for others.”
Elizabeth Elliot in A Lamp unto My Feet (Ventura: Regal, 1985) 34.
Today’s post reminds us of the purpose of the incarnation, that is, why God came to the world. He came to suffer to redeem a messed up humanity. Our proclivity is to avoid suffering. Jesus calls us to embrace it while no longer living for ourselves but for the will of God.
As we draw closer to Christmas, our greatest act of generosity will not likely be the material gifts we give, but the spiritual blessing we impart when we set aside our desires and will and pour ourselves out for others as Christ did.
For further reading on this topic, I wrote an article for the Christian Leadership Alliance Outcomes magazine that you may wish to click to download: “Disciples of Accountability: Four Instructions for Exiles Awaiting the End”. I pray it’s a blessing to you.