1 Peter 4:7-11

1 Peter 4:7-11

And the end of all things has come near.  Therefore have sound judgment and exert control over your thinking into prayer while having an unceasing love ahead of all things because love covers over a multitude of sins.  Have hospitality into each other without grumbling.  Similarly, each received a gift into themselves while himself serving as a good steward of the diverse grace of God.  If someone speaks, speak as a word of God.  If someone serves, serve out of a strength that God provides in order that in all things God should be glorified through Jesus Christ, who is glory and power into the age of the ages, amen.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

These first words from Peter have been abused all over the place.  Have you ever seen a sign that says, “The end is near?”  Quite often those signs attribute the words to this section of scripture.  The question, how can these words be true when Peter wrote them?  After all, almost 2,000 years of human existence have gone by since those words were first put to paper.  From a human perspective, these words cannot be true.  The end was not near when Peter wrote them.  However, from a divine perspective – the perspective Peter has been advocating all letter long – these words are spot-on correct.  From God’s perspective, human existence has this pattern: creation, sinful rebellion, teaching the world about sin, Christ’s redemption, teaching the world about grace, Christ’s return.  Christ’s return signifies the end.  Therefore, from God’s perspective the end is near.  There is nothing left on the list between where we currently are and the end.  In that perspective, the end is most certainly near.  In fact, the end is next!

How do you live with an “end is near” attitude?  What mistakes can you make if you take the wrong approach to an “end is near” attitude?  What attitude does Peter recommend in this passage?

Second Thought:

As we go through Peter’s description of the “end is near” attitude, look at what attributes make the top of the list.  Above all else are the things that have to do with selfless love.  Obviously, Peter tells us to serve one another because we are stewards of God’s grace.  We are to be hospitable.  But where Peter begins this is in telling us to keep ourselves in control.  When we are impulsive, we are only thinking of ourselves and what we want.  But when we live in self-control we are putting the needs of others ahead of ourselves.  None of this should come as a surprise.  What is the primary means through which God has shown His love for us?  His Son came and gave His life for our sake.  How do we live with an “end is near” attitude?  We imitate Christ and His great sacrificial love.

Where do you live sacrificially?  How do you model a life that puts others ahead of yourself?

Third Thought:

As we draw to the end of this section of scripture, Peter reminds us how it is that we can even live with an “end is near” attitude.  How can we have the strength to put ourselves aside and think of another instead of ourselves?  We can only do it through God’s power.  We can only do it through God’s strength.  We can only speak love through God’s words.  He is the source of a sacrificial “end is near” living.

How do you get your ability to live in this way from God?  How do you ensure that you are living out of God’s being rather than leaning upon your own strength?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Peter 4:12-16