Under Armour For Christians

A lot of Christians think that our only spiritual option in the face of suffering is to just try to survive and somehow keep your faith.

Peter would disagree.

In the most extended discussion of suffering in the New Testament Peter tells his readers to take up arms against suffering.

And he’s not talking about picking up some verbal or theological weapon to beat your enemies or the devil over the head with.

He’s talking about putting on the same battle armor the Lord Jesus wore on the cross.

“But,” you protest, “if Jesus was clothed at all on the cross, it was only a loin cloth. How do you get armor out of that?”

I’m not talking about anything Jesus wore on the outside. He chose not to protect His body against the beatings, the scourging, the thorns and the nails. If the people He loves were to have any hope, He knew He had to pay for our sins by dying that cruel death.

I’m talking about what Jesus was “wearing” on the inside—in His heart and mind. We can’t know everything that Jesus was thinking as He died for our sins on that cruel Roman cross, but we do know that Peter highlights two thoughts paramount in His mind in 1 Peter 3:

1) He was entrusting Himself to the Father as He suffered for others.

2) He was trusting in His Father to vindicate Him.

And then, in 4:1, Peter encourages Christians to “arm yourselves also with the same mind” as Christ who suffered for us in the flesh.

Christian, there’s your battle-armor in the warzone of suffering.

I can’t know what your specific suffering is today, but I do know that there’s something that is breaking your heart—physically, emotionally, or relationally.

Maybe you’ve lost your job and you don’t know how you’re going to pay the mortgage.

Maybe your prodigal son or daughter is out there somewhere living a lifestyle that causes you to live expecting a call from the coroner some sad night.

Maybe you just heard what you thought you would never hear from your spouse: “I don’t love you any more.” “I’m leaving you.” “I had an affair.” “I’m addicted.”

Maybe strained relationships in your family or your church have just worn you out and you don’t know if you can go on.

Or maybe, like me, you live with a dread disease that could take you out without warning.

May I encourage you to take Peter’s words to heart and put on your battle armor?

Arm yourself with the same thoughts Jesus was thinking when He suffered for you:

My Loving Father is still good and I can trust Him with this pain so that I can live for others.

My Loving Father will never let me down and someday He will vindicate me so that I can see clearly why this had to be.

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same mind (attitude, mindset) (1 Peter 4:1).