Living for God's glory 1 Peter 4_7-11
Living for God's Glory
1 Peter 4:7-11 (New King James Version)
7But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 7. Resuming the idea in 1Pe 4:3-5.
the end of all things— The nearness meant is not necessarily speaking of mere time. The Lord will come as a thief;
1 Thessalonians 5:2
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
Matthew 24:36
36"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven,[a] but My Father only.
He is “ready” (1Pe 4:5) to judge the world at any moment; it is only God’s long-suffering and His will that the Gospel should be preached as a witness to all nations, that induces Him to lengthen out the time which is with Him still as nothing.
be serious—(King James says “sober”) —“self-restrained.” The opposite duties to the sins in 1Pe 4:3.
watchful—Greek, “be soberly vigilant”; not intoxicated with worldly cares and pleasures. [compare to drunkenness-- drink makes drowsy, and drowsiness prevents prayer.
prayer—Greek, “prayers”; the end for which we should exercise vigilance.
8And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."[a]
above all things—not that love is placed above “prayer,” but rather without love, all other duties are dead.
to bear the other’s burdens, forgiving and forgetting past offenses. Perhaps the additional idea is included, By prayer for them, love tries to have them covered by God
Proverbs 10:12
“Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.”
9Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
(Rom 12:13) Distributing to the needs of saints; given to hospitality.
(Heb 13:2) Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
It’s talking about attending to those who have needs. Exercising our faith, showing hospitality to those needing it, as representatives of Christ, showing genuine Christian love.
Peter reminds us that the only way our hospitality will bring glory to God is if we do it without grumbling—Not talking behind their back while we are showing them hospitality.
The picture I see here is talking about the kind of hospitality that we see in Acts 2:45, where people sold their possessions and land, and divided them among anyone who had a need.
What happened because of their actions? Acts 2:47 (And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.)
What did Jesus say in Mathew 25:31-46 about hospitality?
Turn with me there for a moment. (Scan and read)
**Look what he says down around verse 35…
(Mat 25:35) For I was hungry, and you gave me food: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in:
10As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11If 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.
The Spirit’s gifts (literally, “gift of grace,” that is, gratuitously bestowed) are the common property of the Christian community, each Christian being but a steward for the edifying of the whole, not receiving the gift merely for his own use.
minister the same—not discontentedly envying or disparaging the gift of another.
one to another—Greek as in 1Pe 4:8, “towards yourselves”; implying that all form but one body, and in seeking the good of other members they are promoting the good of themselves.
stewards—referring to Mt 25:15, &c.; Lu 19:13–26.
“Let him speak as (becomes one speaking) oracles of God.” His divinely inspired words are not his own, but God’s, and as a steward (1Pe 4:10) having them committed to him, he ought so to speak them.
Jesus was the pattern in this respect
(Mat 7:29) For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
(Joh 12:49) For I have not spoken on my own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.
that in all things God may be glorified—the final end of all a Christian’s acts.
through Jesus Christ—the mediator through whom all our blessings come down to us, and also through whom all our praises ascend to God.
Through Christ alone God can be glorified in us and through what we say and do.
Are we living in a way that God is glorified…does your life resemble that of Christ’? None of will be perfect, but are we making progress?
It’s never too late to turn around, God allows U-turns.