Scripture:
I Peter 4:7-11 NKJV
[7] But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. [8] And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” [9] Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. [10] As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. [11] If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Observation:
I do my best not to be one of those who looks at the end of all time being this total catastrophe. As a true believer I’m not sure that is how we are supposed to look at it. Ultimately what that means is that we will be hanging out with Jesus and that in and of itself is what we have all been living for. The horrible part of that is that there will be people who choose to go a different route, and that is the catastrophic part of it. So as I was praying this morning the word love popped into my mind. If we read the bible or have ever been to Sunday school as a child one of the very first things we ever learn about the bible is that it’s a story of GOD’S great love for humanity. As I started to get into what HE wanted to say this morning my thumbs brought me to the back of the bible, which is where the letters Peter wrote are located, two power packed letters that were written by the very first disciple ever called by Jesus. Walking beside HIM for the entire 3 years of HIS ministry. As you can tell through what is said Peter has a sense of urgency in what he is writing. I believe as follows of Christ we all should. Looking at the first verse we have been brought to this morning, the statement he makes is somewhat heavy and leaves us with a responsibility. That responsibility is what I want to get to. Being watchful in your prayers. But what does that mean and how do we do it? The idea behind that statement is to stay spiritually alert, self-controlled and clear minded. It was a warning to stay away from being the kind of followers that are simply going through the motions, understanding the urgency that is at hand, resisting temptation, remaining clear minded and spiritual alert. As we read the Bible and find the very character of GOD described, what we find is that HE is love. So as Peter continues to teach his next topic is exactly that, but the way it’s stated is again very important to pay attention to. As we see Peter’s character unfold in the Bible I think it’s vital to pay attention to. Especially right around acts chapter 2 after the Holy Spirit had come upon the believers that were in the upper room. His fervent love stood up in the presence of those who had chosen to crucify the LORD. His willingness to speak the truth in those moments might not have felt so loving, but it was a game changer for thousands of people. The word fervent means showing strong, sincere feelings, a deep emotion or intense enthusiasm. I would say on the day of Pentecost that’s exactly what happened. Peter showed such love for those that had crucified his savior that it brought about salvation several thousand of them, so when Peter is writing here it’s from his personal experience in what happens when true love is shown. The heart and its condition is the key and that’s made clear as we press forward into what we are looking at this morning, hostility without grumbling, is a statement made to confront the condition of the heart. We can see this principle confronted when Martha was complaining that she was the only one serving the LORD as her sister sat at HIS feet. What she was doing was good but it put her heart in a bad spot, as she grumbled about it. The spiritual gifts need to be used but if they are used without love then the effects they have are not the ones they are designed to have. Reminding that the purpose of them is to represent Jesus Christ is the point. It’s all for HIS glory.
Application:
A disciplined prayer life guards against the distractions of life. Now I’m going to be honest there are times when I’m really good at this and tines when I have not been so good, and I can certainly tell the difference when my prayer life is active and when it’s lacking because forgiveness comes quickly when I’m seeking the will of GOD on a constant regular basis. As I was studying through this I found some conviction in my life. It’s not always easy to just do it, without grumbling, especially when it costs you things like time. The one thing that you can not replace. But fervent love and being present in the moment is where GOD wants our heart to be. You see people see compassion when you give the one thing that can not be replaced. Our time is valuable. So when we spend it, we should definitely be present in the moment. I have heard it said that ministry happens in the inconveniences. When you’re running late but you still take time to pray with the person sitting outside the convenient store you stopped to get coffee at, or you stop to help the person you saw with the flat tire. Our heart position matters. The phrase that keeps coming to my mind is, “ love covers a multitude of sins.” As I think about that, I think about the sense of urgency Christ must have felt knowing HE only had 3 years to prepare the disciples to carry on the work, knowing that the love HE was about to show the world was going to cover every sin of those who would accept it. My question for us is this, are we willing to love when it’s not easy? Or when it cost us? What about when it takes time away from something you feel is more important? When does the grumbling start? When do you look at it as an inconvenience? Our heart matters. It’s what the Father pays attention to. That means we should as well. The anxiety we feel when we are running late and the Holy Spirit says take the time to help that person. The bible says that we may entertain angels without knowing it. My point here is this. People can tell when your heart is only half way there. I don’t think that the impact that was felt by the woman at the well would have been so profound if Christ was not present in that moment. She needed his undivided attention, and she got it, and it changed her life. My challenge to you today is to be present in the moments GOD puts in front of you. Listen carefully not only to the person but the Holy Spirit as well. Allow GOD to use your time.
Prayer:
Father, we know that you are looking at our hearts. We want them to be spiritually healthy. Help us to just slow down and love those around us today. Help us to see them the way that you do. We know the value of our time. But you are the only one who knows how much time we have and what you have put in our path to see where our heart is. We want to serve you with a heart that is focused on the kind of love that you have given us. We want to be found right in the center of your will. Help us to find ourselves there. We do not want to be in such a rush to get through life that we miss opportunities to love those you have placed next to us. Touch our hearts today. Show us the ones you would have us take time with. Help us to see them all the way you see them. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.