Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

When I was a kid, I loved anything to do with the military. My two younger brothers and I would engage in various combat scenarios, whether it was me pistol-whipping them in the woods (a pretty standard military tactic) or creating these elaborate battle scenes with our little plastic army men. The epic battles we played out were almost always that of a WWII variety. That has always been my favorite period of history, so naturally the woods behind our house became the Ardennes Forest, where the Battle of the Bulge was fought, and the pond was, obviously, the Battle of Midway. Our imaginations were fueled by the History Channel and the books we read.

One such story is that of a one Kazuo Odachi. He belonged to a group of soldiers that were never meant to survive...the feared, Kamikaze Pilots. The Kamikaze Pilots were Japanese pilots who were destined for death and destruction via suicide missions. Their aircrafts were loaded with extra fuel and explosives, while the pilot was tasked with piloting the aircraft into various targets for maximum damage. Mr. Odachi volunteered to fight in a war he knew his country would not win. He was prepared to die for those he loved. On his first mission as a suicide pilot, his plane was rigged with a 1,100lb bomb making it impossible to outmaneuver the enemy. When spotted, he jettisoned his bomb into the ocean and managed to escape. On his next mission, he failed to find a target. The next 6 missions he would go on would also end in failure. Mr. Odachi describes the nights waiting for new mission orders as “the conferral of the death penalty, and it was stomach-turning”. By the end, he said, “We had become indifferent to matters of life and death. Our only concern was making the final moment count.” Just before takeoff of his final mission, a ground crew member ran onto the runway and signaled for the squadron to stop. The war was over with Japan’s surrender.

Mr. Odachi said, “We had become indifferent to matters of life and death.” As Christians, we too can carry a similar attitude, however, our indifference is fueled, not by nationalism and military training, but by victory over death through Jesus Christ. In Romans 12, we are called to be a “living sacrifice”. Pain and suffering are but a bump in the road on our journey. Peter says, “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1 Peter 4:14). Whether insult or death, there will be “a Spirit of glory and of God resting on us.” We are not exempt from pain and suffering, but we will experience a special “resting” on us of “the Spirit of glory and of God.” Romans 5:3-5 says to “rejoice in our sufferings.” We gain endurance and hope through these trials. When you think about it, it’s a “glass half full” mentality, except, as believers' cups are completely full and no amount of pain and suffering can take that away. Jesus conquered death and we have been raised to walk in newness in life with Him. When all of eternity awaits us, who has time to worry about the trials of this temporary home? For the nonbeliever, this is as good as it gets. But for my brothers and sisters in Christ, this is as bad as it gets. Eyes on the prize!

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Take a few moments to reflect on the suffering Christ endured on the cross.
• Now, take a few moments to reflect on the reason He endured that suffering. SPOILER ALERT: It was for you!
• Read Romans 5:3-5.
  
• Prayer: God, let Your Spirit wash over us in times of trial and suffering. Let us not lose sight of Your love for us and the goals of spreading Your gospel. Give us courage and a steadfast determination that is rooted in what has already been done for us. May we stand in Your victory in all that we do. We love You.

Family Devo: 1 Peter 4

By: Ty Park

When partnering with your family to know, love, and follow Jesus, we strive to create and share content filtered by the Head-Heart-Hands model.   

Head: the knowledge of God and His Word | Heart: the personal connection from scripture | Hands: a missional mindset  

Head

In 1 Peter chapter 4, Peter encourages believers to live for God in the midst of suffering. He reminds them to have the same attitude as Christ. Peter emphasizes the importance of living according to God's will and not following the desires of the flesh. He reminds them that our time is limited and therefore they should be alert and sober-minded, living in constant prayer and love for one another. Peter also reminds the believers that suffering is a part of their walk with Christ and encourages them to rejoice in their sharing of Christ's sufferings. He concludes this chapter by encouraging them to trust their faithful Creator and continue to pursue Christ even in the midst of trials.  

Heart

The message from 1 Peter 4 is that, as believers, we are called to live differently in the midst of suffering. Just as Jesus suffered for us, we are called to endure suffering for the sake of righteousness. This can be challenging and may cause us to feel isolated or discouraged, but we can take comfort in knowing that we are not alone. God is with us, and He will strengthen us to endure and overcome. We can find hope and joy in knowing that our sufferings are temporary and that they help us grow and become more like Christ. It is in the midst of suffering that we can experience God's grace and power in a deeper and more meaningful way. We can trust in God's faithfulness, knowing that He is always at work in our lives. 

Hands

Looking at 1 Peter chapter 4, let us strive to live our lives in a way that honors God, even in the face of suffering. Let us be intentional about seeking His will and following His commands. This may mean making sacrifices and prioritizing righteousness over worldly desires. It also means loving and supporting one another, especially in times of difficulty. Let us be diligent in prayer, seeking God's guidance and strength to endure and overcome. And let us continue to do good, even when it may be challenging or unpopular. By doing so, we reflect the love and character of Christ to the world around us. 

Prayer: God, we thank You for who You are. We thank You for Your son Jesus and what He did on the cross. May our lives glorify You, God. I pray that all we do honors you. I pray we keep our focus on Christ and strive to look more and more like Him daily. It’s in Jesus' name I pray, Amen.