"Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries." 1 Peter 4:1-3

The biggest regret in my life is wasted time -- time spent on my own selfish pursuits rather than doing the will of God and honoring Christ, who shunned sin and evil and then suffered and died to bear the full punishment for all my sins that I might be pardoned and forgiven and have a place in His everlasting kingdom. It's not that I spent my time in lewdness, drunkenness or partying; rather, it's that I could have spent so much more time reading and studying His Word, praying, evangelizing and bearing witness to my Savior. Instead of walking in the way led by God's Spirit, I so often walked in the way which was desired of my weak sinful nature and failed so many times to bear witness to Christ and to testify against what is sin.

The apostle Paul reminds us: "For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again" (2 Cor. 5:14-15). Christ's death for sin was our death and, as He is risen from the dead and lives to God, so we who trust in Him are alive from the dead and live for Him who died for us and rose again (cf. Rom. 6:1ff).

As such, we can expect to suffer with Christ in this world. After all, the world does not wish to hear the warnings of God's Law and rejects the comforts of the Gospel. People do not wish to hear of their sinfulness and of God's judgment upon sin; and they do not wish to turn to Christ for pardon and forgiveness because that would entail, as a fruit of faith, following Christ and walking in accord with His will and teaching. And so, rather than hearing the truth, the world would silence those who bear witness to the truth (cf. 1 Pet. 4:12ff.; John 15:18ff.; 2 Tim. 3:12; Matt. 5:10-12).

If we walk in the ways of this world, the people of this world will accept us and welcome us. If we cease living in sin and live for Christ, the world will wonder what's wrong with us and speak evil of us for not going along with its evil ways (cf. 1 Pet. 4:4f.).

Indeed, if we examine ourselves honestly, haven't we wasted enough time already walking according to the ways of this world? Haven't we spent enough of our past lives in the ways of the unbelieving? That is why Christ died for us and redeemed us, winning for us God's pardon!

Since we have God's pardon and forgiveness through faith in Christ, let's use the time we have left in this world to live for Him who died for our sins and rose again! Let's redeem the time and follow the leading of God's Spirit in His Word (cf. Eph. 5:15ff.)!

Dear Lord Jesus, grant that we trust in You and Your cross for pardon and forgiveness and then, as a fruit of our faith, quit wasting our time but live our lives for You and to the honor of Your name. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

Editorial on 05/17/2017