Be Alert

 "The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

— 1 Peter 4:7-8

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

When Peter penned these words under the influence of the Holy Spirit, I wonder if he thought the end of all things was imminent. If he had been told humanity has at least 2000 more years, would he have comprehended it? I feel that today. As I survey our world, it seems to me that the end of all things is near. Nearer than it's ever been. Yet if You told me humanity would still be here in 4025, I'd find that very difficult to process or even imagine. Only the Father knows how near the end of things truly is.

In the meantime, while we await that final day, I am to be alert and of sober mind. The Greek words are sophenes and nepho: "To be of sound mind, in one's right mind, exercising self-control, and culling one's passions, to be sober, to be calm and collected in spirit, to be temperate, dispassionate, and circumspect." That is the attitude I am to have and the reason for this mindset is so that I may pray. Isn't that interesting? The end of all things is near so have your mind right not so you can prepare, not so you can speculate, not so you can worry or complain, but so you can pray. Prayer is the focus of our sober-mindedness.

And then we are to love each other deeply. So much to contemplate about this verse. It is Your love that covers my own sin. And the love I share deeply with others lifts them out of their sin and reveals the love of Christ who delivers us from our sin. If the end of all things truly is near, Your Word directs my mindset, calls me to pray, and challenges me to love deeply.

Lord Jesus, that is my goal today, to be alert and sober-minded, to pray, and to love deeply.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

No Retaliation

 "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." — 1 Peter 2:21-23 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, Thank you for leaving me an example of how to respond when I am verbally chastised, insulted, and torn down. You did not retaliate. No deceit was found in Your mouth. When You suffered, You made no threats. Instead You entrusted Yourself to the Father who judges Your accusers justly. Yesterday, a respected young man named Charlie Kirk, 31, who stood for righteousness and civil discourse was assassinated while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Charlie Kirk has consistently been one of the calmest and most polite among us. He listened to questions from his o...
Read more

Suffering

 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. — Romans 5:3-4 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, We glory in our sufferings. The word Paul uses here means to "glory in a thing", "to boast", "to rejoice." He's contrasting his previous thought that we boast or rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. We rejoice in our hope of God and  we rejoice in our sufferings. The picture forming in my mind is lifting hands, shouting with joy, as I rejoice in God and then doing the same thing in the midst of my suffering. Yeah. I don't do that. I don't rejoice when suffering comes. I do the opposite. I complain. I sulk. I moan. I am irritated. I am angry. I am resentful. But do I rejoice? No. Yet this is the very thing Paul says we are to do. And it's because of the incredible fruitfulness our suffering brings. Suffering produces perseverance....
Read more

Faithful Stewards

 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 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." — 1 Peter 4:8-11 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, This is the second time Peter instructs believers to love one another deeply, fervently. Our love for one another overlooks small offenses. Without our deep and fervent love, every little irritation becomes a grievance. It should not be that way in the body of Christ. Because this early church met in homes, hospitality was necessary. To be hospitable means welcoming people into your home, but ...
Read more