To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout the earth, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance. You are invited to come to the Wednesday evening prayer meeting and pray. (8:30 PM EDT Wed., Dec. 19, 2001) (If you have e-mail prayer requests, please send them before 5:00 PM.)

In today's passage we are again being given instruction on how to very practically live our lives as God's elect. Just before this passage, Peter told us that God is ready to judge the living and the dead. Jesus is the judge. We know that Jesus will come back and will judge the living and the dead. He will judge those that heap abuse on us who live for the will of God (4:2-4). Peter has also told us earlier that we should 'live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse [us] of doing wrong, they may see [our] good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us (2:12).' Now, guided by the Holy Spirit, Peter is reminding us that the judgment can come at any time. The end of all things is near.

"The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray (v7)." First of all, the reason we need to be clear minded and self-controlled is so that we can pray. God hears the prayers of those who are obedient and do his will. Peter says in chapter 3 verse 7, "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers." Also, quoting from David in chapter 3 verse 12, he says, "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." James says, concerning prayers for healing, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:12)." God hears the prayers of those who are obedient and do his will. And the will of God is this: for us to trust him -- to believe in his Son, Jesus.

"The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray." To be clear minded and self-controlled, literally, to think rationally and not as one who is drunk, requires you to give careful consideration to everything you do. Do you make decisions based on whims or feelings, or by careful reasoning in consideration of the word of God and with prayer? Consider everything you do very carefully. Be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

Verse 8 says, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." This is the key verse. The very nature of God is love (1 John 4:7,8). To love is to be like God. Loving others does not cancel sin. Only the blood of Jesus does that. But when Peter says that love covers over a multitude of sins, he is telling us that it hides them. Earlier in his letter Peter told us that the way we live our lives as Christians is a testimony about God to unbelievers. I have already mentioned one place, chapter 2 verse 12: "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." Now Peter is telling us that if we love each other deeply, that is what people will see, rather than our sins. They will see Christ in us. If we don't love each other deeply, they will see our sins.

Verse 9 is an example of loving each other: "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." I think that 'without grumbling' means not just without grumbling outwardly, but without grumbling in your heart also. Offering hospitality may require some sacrifice, but what Jesus did for us required the ultimate sacrifice of the universe -- and he did it without grumbling. Where does it say that he did it without grumbling? Well, Isaiah 53:7 says, "...as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth." But even if we did not have that scripture, I know that Jesus did not grumble because grumbling is a sin against God and Jesus was without sin. Do you grumble? Grumbling is complaining against God. The apostle Paul says, "We should not test the Lord, as some of them (the Israelites) did -- and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble as some of them did -- and were killed by the destroying angel (1 Cor. 10:9,10)." So, lets offer hospitality without grumbling.

Verse 10 says, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." Our ability to love and serve each other comes from God. It is his gift to us. He has given different gifts to different people so that no one person is indispensable. The gift you have received is not for your benefit, but for the benefit of others. It is God's grace to them through you, so use it faithfully in serving them.

Verse 11a says, "If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God." This is really a strong saying. Where the NIV says 'the very words of God,' some translators say 'the oracles of God.' The Old Testament prophets spoke the oracles of God. Can we somehow speak the way the Old Testament prophets spoke? God said that if someone claimed to be a prophet and he said something would happen and it didn't -- or, even if what he said actually did happen, but he was advocating other gods -- he must be put to death. How can we speak as speaking the very words of God?

I've heard that the Jewish scribes that copied the Old Testament Scriptures went through a very elaborate procedure to prepare themselves both ceremonially and practically before they would begin to copy Scripture. To write what I am now writing, I just sat down and started to do it. But I did do one thing. I prayed. But still, I realize that my attitude has not been to 'speak as one speaking the very words of God.' I think that God is telling us, through Peter, that we have to be extremely careful to not misrepresent God in any way by what we say. And I think that this doesn't just apply to preaching and teaching, but to all that we say. How do you talk about God, or about his creation, or about his creatures -- your bothers and sisters in Christ? Do you speak as one speaking the very words of God? Think very carefully about everything you say.

The rest of verse 11 says, "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 objective is for God to be praised through Jesus. That's Peter's objective. Is it your objective too? To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Let's pray for God to put it in our hearts to use the gifts he has given us, as well as our whole lives, to love and serve others so that he may be praised and glorified through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Come and let's pray for each other as well as for the whole church. Come and encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Love them.

Love in Christ,
Dean

PS: If you absolutely can't make it to the prayer meeting, send your prayer requests back to me by e-mail and we'll pray for them.