May 26, 2023 The Power of Christ’s Way of Thinking – Words of Grace – May 26, 2023
When the Apostle Peter tells us to have the same way of thinking about suffering that Christ had (1 Peter 4:1), he means for us to take on and share Christ’s attitude. Peter is thinking about something much deeper than “an interesting perspective” or “one way of looking at it”. An attitude is a way of thinking that is formed in us so deeply that it determines our responses to events and the direction of our lives.
Christ’s way of thinking is powerful mindset munition for the Christian who suffers for his name.
Christ’s way of thinking about his own suffering is found in 1 Peter 4 and other parts of the New Testament. He was completely given in mind and body to the will of God (verse 2, Matthew 26:39, John 17:4). He endured the suffering of the cross by focusing on the joy that would come through what he accomplished there (verse 13, Hebrews 12:1-2). While suffering, he continued entrusting himself to God (verse 14, 1 Peter 2:23, Luke 23:46). Commitment to God’s will, joy in the future, and trust in the Father formed the way Christ thought. These things were the collective attitude that kept him faithful in the suffering that accomplished our salvation.
Taking on Christ’s way of thinking will be the power that keeps us faithful, hopeful, and joyful in our suffering as Christians.
The power of Christ’s way of thinking lies in the fact that he is in us. Christ is our hope of glory that will far outweigh the sufferings of this world (Colossians 1:27, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:17). We are united with Christ by faith. He is not an instructor standing before a class of students giving information. He is alive within us remaking our minds to think his way and take on his attitude. This is the power of Christ himself at work in us while we suffer, keeping us to the end.
To arm ourselves with the same way of thinking as Christ, we must be in Christ, in his word, and in prayer. To be in Christ is to have faith in him and to have his Spirit residing in us renewing our minds. To be in the word of Christ is to have his truth as the content of our faith. To be in prayer is to bring our lives relationally before him and his word in repentance and faith.
In Christ, his word, and prayer, his way of thinking becomes ours and we find the power to suffer for his name. And let’s not forget, by sharing the sufferings of Christ, we will also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. We will share that, too (1 Peter 4:13-14).
I look forward to worshipping Christ with you Sunday.
-Scott