1 Peter 4:3-6

1 Peter 4:3-6

For the time that has been passing is sufficient to do the will of the Gentiles having lived in a manner lacking moral restraint, lust, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and disgusting idolatry.  In which they are astonished while you do not join into the same excessive flood of recklessness and while blaspheming you all.  These ones will pay out a word to the one who is prepared to judge the living and the dead.  For the Good News was being proclaimed into these and the dead in order that in one case they should be judged according to the flesh of mankind but in another case they should live according to the Spirit of God.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I really enjoy the way that Peter opens this section.  “They time that has been passing is sufficient.”  In other words, we’ve had enough time in our life to live out our disobedience.  One might even take that a bit figuratively and say that human beings have had more than enough time to live in disobedience.  We’ve sowed our wild oats.  It’s time to shape up and humbly submit to the Father and His ways.

Do you feel as though you’ve had enough time to sow wild oats?  Do you ever wish you had freedom to pursue human desire?

Second Thought:

It is interesting to hear Peter’s thoughts on the reaction of the world to those who follow God.  Peter uses words like astonished.  The world doesn’t get it.  They don’t understand.  They cannot contemplate why people would voluntarily choose to ignore their fleshly passions and instead live to a different standard.  The world is amazed when we say no to various carnal impulses.  That’s to be expected, because that is the very opportunity that we then have for mission and ministry.  When we act in a way that causes other people pause, we have an opportunity to explain ourselves.  Not all will listen, of course.  In fact, perhaps many won’t listen.  Perhaps we’ll be mocked, slandered, and even blasphemed against.  But what matters is that through our actions we have an opportunity to astonish the world and then explain why.

Do you do anything astonishing from the world’s perspective?  What do you do?  Have you ever gotten an opportunity to explain your choices to others?  If so, how have they reacted?

Third Thought:

This is a neat verse upon which to end this section.  What is the purpose of the Good News?  It is simple.  The Good News is something that changes all of us.  The Good News is something that all of us experience.  Of course we all live according to the flesh of mankind.  Every single one of us deserves the condemnation that our flesh brings upon us.  Yet, the Good News allows us to live according to the Spirit of God.  Spiritually speaking, we are in fact all dead.  The Gospel allows each of us to live according to the Spirit of God.

What does it mean to you to know that you were dead according to the flesh but allowed to live according to the Spirit of God?  How do you see and feel this truth in your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Peter 4:7-11