1 Peter 4:7-11 – 7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
The first group of articles on the Lord’s return entitled “Look Who’s Coming” dealt with four questions people must ask themselves: Do I know Him? Am I serving Him? Am I looking for Him? Am I preparing to reign with Him?
The second group of articles entitled “Notice the Signs” dealt with ongoing and closing signs. Present day evidence indicates Jesus can come at any moment.
The last group of articles addresses lifestyle. When speaking of His return the focus is not only the event but also the response. Every New Testament writer makes reference to His return. They are not simply informing believers, they are addressing the conduct of believers. Knowing about His second coming should affect lifestyle. Things people should do, or not do, is directly linked to the imminent return of the Lord. The issue is not legalism but readiness.
His return should affect both how life is viewed and how life is lived. In the near future those who follow Jesus will be changed bodily. Having this promise should change behavior today. We dare not become indifferent with this information. Doing so would be an act of denying Him.
The promise of His return should affect a believer in five ways – activities, attitude, anticipation, admonishments and attention.
First, examine the activities of a believer. What actions should be a part of your lifestyle? Although not all-inclusive, a broad standard-of-living is given in Peter’s first letter.
Meaningful prayer
The Apostle Peter gives details about end-time praying. “Be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” (v. 7) Another translation states, “Be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.” The Living Bible states, “Be earnest and thoughtful in prayer.”
As the hour of His return approaches, greater effort will be needed to have meaningful time with the Lord. With so many voices crying for your attention, it takes clear-minded, self-control to recognize the voice of God.
Communication with God will not become easier as the hour of His return approaches. Conversation, dialogue and intimacy with the Lord will call for greater focus.
How much time are you giving to the activity of prayer? Most of us are extremely busy but if we are too rushed to pray we end up spinning our wheels and going nowhere. Pressures of end-time living are going to increase; pressures that will drive some people away from an audience with God.
In Luke 18:1-8 is recorded a parable of Jesus that was “…to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.” (V.1) The parable ends with a frightening question: “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (V. 8) The action of praying is an activity of faith. Although a concern has not yet been resolved, you keep asking because you still have faith He is able to answer the request.
Some wonder when they should quit praying for a need and start praising for the answer? The Bible tells you to pray until you see the answer, then praise God for what was done. There is no denial of faith to pray for something more than once. Faith causes you to keep praying. If the devil can find a way to get you to quit praying, he wins.
Jesus emphasized prayer. Nowhere is it recorded that He emphasized praise. The value of praise is found in the practice of prayer. Praise is not separate from prayer but part of it. Praise is inclusive of prayers. The act of praise is the portion of your prayer that brings you into an audience with God. What follows is a conversation with Him. God will manifest Himself in your adoration but He earnestly desires your conversation.
Prayer is occasionally made harder than it has to be. In its simplest form prayer is simply talking to God. Like worship, it comes from the heart and is honest and sincere.
Peter admonishes believers to be clear-minded; open and receptive to correction and change. Praying is never an attempt to manipulate God or coerce God. It is not a time to make demands or threaten rejection.
Years ago a couple was expecting a baby. Complications developed in the delivery. The husband went to the hospital chapel to pray. His approach, however, missed the mark: “God, you better keep her alive or I won’t serve you.”
Various approaches to prayer are frightening. It is not a ritual, a performance, a chant, or a formula for success. Prayer is conversation with the Father with all preconceived notions out of your mind – clear-minded.
End-time praying is meaningful praying. You are to be well versed in prayer when He comes.
Fervent love
People are not coming to Jesus for greater wisdom, although faith in God is not unreasonable. People are not coming to Jesus to be chastised and condemned, although conviction is a very real part of knowing God. People are entering into a meaningful relationship with God to be loved and to find acceptance.
The God, who is Love personified, wants us to “love each other deeply.” The Lord who reconciled us unto Himself wants us to be agents of reconciliation. As His day draws closer, Biblical love will become scarcer.
Remember: love does not accuse, does not criticize, does not grumble and does not provoke.
A study on the miracles of Jesus reveals that supernatural manifestations were almost exclusively an extension of compassion (love). Jesus ignored people when they wanted a sign, when they only wanted a supernatural demonstration of power.
The wonder of genuine love is that it covers a multitude of flaws. I saw this firsthand when pastoring in Minnesota. Doug fell in love with Doris. He had been struck hard by love. In the pre-marital sessions he said, “She’s perfect! She can do no wrong. She’s an angel from heaven.”
Truthfully, she made the best sweet pickles I have ever eaten, but his thoughts of her were unquestionably clouded over. Several months after their wedding I asked if he still believed her to be perfect. He bashfully admitted she had a few faults. His love covered his will to notice the imperfections.
Love is perfected when you can see someone’s worst and not lose respect. Noah was a righteous man and was spared from the devastation of the worldwide flood. Sin, however, survived the flood as well. Genesis 9:20-23 records him getting drunk and exposing himself. One son chose to shame his father. Two sons sorrowfully chose to cover their father. Fervent love covers and restores.
Fully recognize the critical role of repentance while following love’s action to restore.
Expressive hospitality
Hospitality means “to be friendly to others.” Hospitality addresses the importance of friendship. People are not looking for friendliness but for a friend.
There are many lonely people attending churches in America. In this age of indifference, believers are to demonstrate Biblical care and concern without complaint.
Hospitality is a matter of generosity. What wins a person to Jesus is love; what wins a person to church is hospitality.
My mother-in-law genuinely loved the Airmen serving at Ellsworth AFB and invited them to her home for dinner on Sundays. Her home was not fancy. No one was ever able to say they were impressed with her furnishings. The place was simple yet spotlessly clean. Going to her house was for enjoying the common bond of Jesus.
Is the diminishing of hospitality revealing that Jesus is coming soon? We are to be warm and welcoming to others. End-time living involves offering “hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
Gifted service
Exercise your abilities and talents for the advancement of God’s kingdom. Some think they do not have much to offer. You do not need much. Use what you have, whether great or small.
Matthew 25 records an end-time parable about talents. “It will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.” (Vs. 14-15) The first servant was told later, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (V. 21), the second also heard, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (V. 23), the last servant heard, “You wicked, lazy servant!” (V. 26)
In this story the opposite of good is wicked; the opposite of faithfulness is laziness. Expand God’s investment in you. Use what you have. The one ability God can genuinely use is availability.
A major reason why some people do not exercise their abilities is the potential of criticism. Unfortunately whatever a person does is subject to disapproval by others.
Here are a couple of notable quotes that may help you:
· “It is better to try and fail than to do nothing and succeed.”
· “A critic is one who points out how imperfectly other people do that which the critic does not do at all.”
· E. Stanley Jones wrote in his classic book, The Christ of Every Road, this great thought: “May I add a word of personal testimony? No one in public work can escape criticism. I have had my share. It used to cut me to the quick. But now when criticism comes, I find myself asking, ‘Is it true?’ If so, I will take it, will profit by it. My critics thus become ‘the unpaid watchman of my soul.’ If the criticism isn’t true, I can still use it. I can make fires of unjust criticism serve to burn up my fetters and make me free.”
May criticism not deter you from devoting your abilities to God! Whether a task is big or small, if something needs to get done and you see the need, God is most likely asking you to meet the need.
These are some of the activities that are to be a part of your life. As people living with the promise of His return, be active in meaningful prayer, fervent love, expressive hospitality and gifted service.
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