Amongst the Brethren

Proper Perspective

1 Peter 4:7 NIV

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.

It is so easy for us to remove the writer from the words that they have written, but let us take a few moments to take a look at Peter and the reason for his writing. Peter surrendered his life and followed Jesus on the very first day that he met Jesus. He was there when Jesus healed the blind, made the lame walk and healed the sick. He helped serve and ate the meal as Jesus fed the 5000 with a little boy’s lunch. He stood in awe as Jesus gave him a glimpse of His glory as Jesus transfigured on the mountain. Peter witnessed Jesus walking on water and even stepped out of the boat himself. Peter was present when Jesus called forth Lazarus from the very grave. Peter saw the fulfillment of the promises of God in the flesh.

Even though Peter witnessed all of these things, Peter writes this instruction to us as believers to recognize and understand that we are in the end times. Every day, we are drawing closer to the end of days. Peter recognized this as the key transition that occured when Jesus ascended. So Peter instructs us to be of alert and sober minded for the sake of our prayers.

It is interesting that Peter places the emphasis for why we are to respond to the world with a sound and sober mind is for the sake of our prayers. Remember that it was Peter who the Lord Jesus turned to in His time of greatest need to pray on His behalf and Peter responded by falling asleep. But I believe that it is in moments like these that Peter came to understand the importance of prayer.

We have not grasped that truth in our lives. Prayer is at its very core the act of surrender and trust in the Lord. It is turning to the Lord in such a way that your heart believes that he hears your cries and will be faithful to respond. Prayer is where faith meets action and our lives are transformed from believing words to actively following Christ.

Peter tells us that for our prayer life to be where we it should be, we must recognize that we are in the end times, that we are sound and sober minded. These truths are so relevant to where we find ourselves today.

We place so much trust and faith in the promises of the world and we respond to life based upon our feelings toward the world’s promises. the world tells us that the way to be safe is to physical distance, wear masks and even stop gathering all together. The world tells us that we have systematically demeaned a people based solely on the color of their skin. The Lord says though about our situation that He is our hope and in Him alone do we find safety and security. Apart from God’s hands, nothing is truly safe and secure. The Lord says that all people, of every tribe, color and nationality are of the utmost worth and value, because He created them and deemed them worthy.

You see when we believe the promises of the world, our hearts and minds ebb and flow like the waves of the ocean. We are pulled in every direction by powers that have no place to be leading our lives.

Amongst the Brethren

1 Peter 4:8–9 NIV

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

If these are the end times where everything else is passing away and the temporaryness of all of thinns is so very evident, then Peter prioritizes how we are to respond to one another. Love open another deeply. The phrase here is agape ektenos or love deeply, earnestly, unfailingly. The picture that Peter is painting here is the picture of God’s love. If we are in the end times, then let us love one another in the same manner as the Lord loves us.

Love is hard. It takes constant work, shifting and changing. To truly love another takes intentional investigation of the needs, wants, desires of the other party. It takes humbling of oneself on a daily, hourly, moment by moment basis.

Where love abounds in the Christian comunity, many small offenses and even larger ones are forgotten and overlooked. When love abounds, it is like when your kids bring you breakfast in bed and the toast is burnt, the OJ is filled to the brim of the cup and now in transit, has spilled over the tray. It is decaf coffee in the mug and egg shells cooked into the egg. And the smile on your face lets your kids know that all is forgotten.

Where love is lacking, every word is viewed with suspicion and mistrust. Every action is met with a third degree about what our angle Or agenda might be. And in the end, only conflict remains and the enemy has won.

Our love is put to action as we are called to be hospitable to one another without grumbling. Being hospitable to another is to put another before yourself. There is a huge difference between staying at a hotel and staying at another’s home.

Where love, deep and earnest love abounds, here the love of God is made known. The world knows nothing of such love.

For His Glory

1 Peter 4:10–11 NIV

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so 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.