The End Is Near

v.7:

That the end is approaching should be a great motivation for us to get serious and be fervent in prayer, and more than sufficient motivation to treat others in a loving manner.

It's all the more urgent, because we don't know when the end is coming (Mat. 25:13).

The end is imminent, yet we don’t know when it is coming.

Matthew 25:13

Matthew 25:13 NKJV

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

However, we are to assume that the end is near. We should live expectantly because Christ is coming soon. 

That was the belief and motivation of the apostles, and should be our belief and motivation as well.

The Apostles expected Christ to return at any time, and so should we.

Romans 13:11-12

Romans 13:11–12 NKJV

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Philippians 4:5

Philippians 4:5 NKJV

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

This belief should spur us to love.

V.8:

The love spoken of here is agape love.

It is the same love that motivated Christ to offer Himself as the sacrifice for our sin.

It was and is love that covers our sin.

This is the same love that we are to convey to others, and this same love will will move us to forgiveness rather than condemnation.

Getting ready to meet Christ involves continually growing in love for God and for others.

Matthew 22:37-40

Matthew 22:37–40 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

It is important to pray regularly and to reach out to needy people.

Your possessions, status, and power will mean nothing in God’s Kingdom.

You won’t spend eternity with your possessions, but you will spend eternity with other people. 

Invest your time and talents where they will make an eternal difference.

V.9:

This hospitality denotes "kindness to strangers".

Often, we don't want to be bothered with someone we don't know, but we shouldn't feel it a burden to help someone.

In our busy lives we often pass others by, because we just don't have time. It is good to remember the parable of the good samaritan.

What we do (or don't do) to others, we do to Christ.

Matthew 25:40

Matthew 25:40 NKJV

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Matthew 25:45

Matthew 25:45 NKJV

Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

V.10:

Everyone has received a gift, and we are not to let it go to waste. 

We are to be good stewards of the gifts we are given.

That means we are to use the gift wisely, liberally, and to God's glory. 

These gifts are given so that we can minister to others, that's the whole point, we serve God by serving others.

Our prayers, our gifts, and our love are for the benefit of others.

God's love benefits us, and our love benefits others.

The "manifold grace of God” means that God's grace is diverse and varied.

This is evident in the many different gifts that He bestows on people.

The body of Christ is given diverse gifts so that we can minister in a complete way, to a diverse group of people.

God's brilliant plan of diversity means that ALL needs can be met, and no one needs be left out. 

There is sufficient grace for all, and God  often administers it through His people.

We are often His instrument of grace to the lost and hurting, yet those are the very ones that we too often ignore.

We would do well to remember the grace that God has shown us, and to realize that we need to extend the same to others.

V.11:

When we open our mouths, it needs to be God speaking through us.

When we minister, It needs to be in God's strength and not of our own.

All that we do should be in the name of Christ, and because of Him.

Colossians 3:17

Colossians 3:17 NKJV

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

If we do what we do in Jesus' name, it takes the focus off of us and places it on Him.

He gets the glory, so we can't boast about our accomplishments. 

This is a humble type of service, one that was modeled by Christ Himself. 

Through this type of obedience, God will be glorified through Christ, who IS our Lord.

He has all dominion, and is worthy of our worship.

That worship can't happen apart from service. Worship and service cannot be separated!

Sitting in church, singing songs and praising God is only one aspect of worship. Your worship is not complete until you serve God by serving others.

Therefore, to truly glorify God we should be using our God-given gifts and abilities. 

How is God glorified when we use our abilities? 

When we use them to help others, they will see Jesus in us and glorify God for the help they have received. 

Peter may have been thinking of Jesus’ words when he wrote this.

Matthew 5:16

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

All glory and dominion belong to Jesus.

He rules over everything, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Everything that we do should add to His glory.

The end is near, and Jesus will return. We should be ready and working until that time comes.

We also need to remember that end of what exists now is only the beginning for believers.

We have nothing to be scared of, and every reason to rejoice.