1 Peter 4:7-11

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.  Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Believers must be prepared for the return of Christ.  We prepare for that glorious event by growing in holiness, building relationships marked by love and forgiveness, and using our gifts for God’s glory.  These priorities require intentionality to develop because we are naturally sinful, selfish, and lazy.  These are the things Christ died for so we could be set free and begin to live for His glory and not our own.

MATURE IN SPIRITUALITY: Self-control and sober-minded are two characteristics that describe spiritual maturity.  Our bodies are prone to temptation and can easily allow for the lusts of the flesh to take control.  The spiritually mature know of their vulnerability and are intentional about avoiding these sinful actions.  Perhaps, the even more difficult aspect of spiritual maturity is in the mind.  Disciplining our minds and taking our thought life seriously is something the spiritually mature strive to accomplish.  The two go hand in hand because if we fail to be soberminded, we will likely lose our self-control.  These are goals for which we must stive for progress.  There are two reasons Peter gives for this: the return of Christ and the effectiveness of our prayers.  Christ’s return will bring relief from our striving against sin and will signify our standing before Christ to give an account of our lives.  While we await His return, we have access to His presence through prayer.  The effectiveness of our prayers in a fallen world is in accordance with our spiritual maturity.

LOVE WITH HOSPITALITY: Love is the distinguishing mark of followers of Christ.  We are called to love the Lord, our spouses, one another, strangers, and even our enemies.  Because none of us are perfectly self-controlled or sober-minded, we will sin against one another.  Forgiveness is essential to keeping on loving one another.  When we love someone, we are willing and able to cover their sin with love.  That does not mean that we ignore their sin or make light of it.  It means to opposite of that.  As believers, our sins are literally covered by the blood of Jesus.  Because we have been forgiven by God, we should naturally forgive one another.  When a brother in Christ sins, we presume the Spirit is leading them to repentance, pray for the person, and are quick to forgive.  Only, when there are no signs of repentance, do we lovingly discipline them.  As believers we are to be close to one another and strive to live in fellowship with and provide for one another.  Hospitality is a requirement for church leadership and should be a characteristic for which believers strive.  In a world marked by suffering, the imprisonment of believers, displaced families, and martyrdom, hospitality is vital and should be practiced with the joy that should accompany all suffering.  Believers should love to be together and share with one another.

SERVE FOR GOD’S GLORY: When we become believers, the Spirit of God indwells us and equips us with spiritual gifts.  These gifts of God’s grace are intended to bring maturity to the body of Christ and ultimately glory to God.  These gifts are varied demonstrations of God’s grace, and they are intended to help us serve one another well.  Peter gives two broad categories of giftings: speaking and serving.  Both are vital to the well-being of the body of Christ.  Our speaking should be informed by the Word of God and our serving should be empowered by the Spirit of God so that they will be used for the glory of God.  We all have a function within the body and should be both dependent and diligent in the exercise of that function.

APPLICATION: Be intentional about bringing our body and brain under the control of the Spirit of God.  Love and forgive one another as we joyfully open our homes to provide for and encourage one another.  Use our spiritual gifts in speaking and serving  one another for our growth and God’s glory.

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