Wednesday. Word.

While having my quiet time the other morning I decided to study 1 Peter 4. There are so many verses that really hit home for me that I've decided to spend the next couple weeks sharing this chapter.

1.Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

2As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

3For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

4They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.

5But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

6For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

WOW. I am humbled when I read this. I've definitely fallen short and continue to fall short. So often I choose temporary happiness and desires, rather than God's perfect will for my life. We joke all the time about drunken debauchery, make jokes and comments about lust, and ALL of us have made something an idol in our lives. What I mean by that is we all have something that we chose before Christ, that we just can't seem to surrender and trust the Lord with.

It's amazing that this was written so long ago, but is still so true. Especially in verse 4 when it says that they think it's strange when you don't give into this debauchery with them and they will heap abuse on you. Most of the time when I've chosen not to drink or party I've definitely been rediculed by those who are doing just that. When I have chosen to party I end up regretting something. Whether that be because I waste away the next day being so tired, texting/calling people I wish I wouldn't have, saying things I wouldn't have said, aiding others to stumble in their walk as well, the list could go on and on...

I'm humbled because so quickly I seem to not think about the fact that Christ SUFFERED for ME and YOU. We've heard it all our lives, most of us, but take a minute and think about that....

If you think because you've fallen short so many times there is no hope, you are wrong. I've told myself that before. Then some amazing people brought truth to me. We are all imperfect people in need of a perfect savior. That is exactly why he sent his son. Christ is constantly in persuit of us no matter how many times we've fallen short. You see, Christ's love is unconditional. That's so hard for us to understand because everyone we've ever met has let us down in some way...

We will have to give an account to him. What are you going to say?