Hi! And welcome back. I was reading this this morning and wow does it ever go with this post I just wrote.
It starts with one of my favorite thoughts too.
Join me as we walk through 1 Peter 4:7-11. Yes, this was the chapter of Bible Study last Tuesday too. But this, this will be a wholly new walk through these four verses.
First let’s pray:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know You’ve set this before me today because You want me to write more about it. So lead me, show me, reveal to us all exactly what You want us to see. In Your holy and precious name. Amen.
We’re going to go through 1 Peter 4:7-11 NIV
Let’s start with verse 7.
7 The end of all things is near;[at hand] therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers.
Yes, ‘the end of all things is near’ is one of my favorite thoughts. It’s so close it can be said to be ‘at hand.’ Yet no one knows exactly when it will occur.
Therefore: In light of the end coming, be serious and discipline yourselves. Why? For the sake of your prayers.
“Be serious” does not mean we can’t be joyful and have fun too, it just means faith is not frivolous. Faith is a critical need and should lead us to disciplining ourselves. The discipline that makes you spend focused time in God’s Presence every day. Read your Bible, transform your thoughts, work consistently on getting closer to Him. It’s not like work, it’s more like love.
That song:
Be careful, little eyes what you see.
Be careful little ears what you hear
The Father up above is looking down in love so be careful …
beloved one, be very careful what you see and hear, what you let get into your mind, what you dwell on in your thoughts. Be very, very careful.
And this quote from Zig Ziglar
“You are what you are and where you are because of what has gone into your mind. You can change what you are and where you are by changing what goes into your mind.”
The mind is a tremendously powerful thing.
Doing all this will help, not hinder our prayers. Spend loads of time in Scripture. That’s one way you can change your thought process. And doing that will lead you to prayers the writers prayed which will help you learn to pray prayers God is so happy to hear.
1 Peter 4:8-9 NIV
8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
Constant love is love at all times in all situations, under all circumstances. Love one another means love the family of faith. Love because it covers a multitude of sins. And it’s the strongest force in the world. Even when only three remain, it’s the greatest of them. (1 Corinthians 13.)
Hospitality isn’t easy. Some people find it a whole lot easier than others because they have that gift specifically, but not all of us do, so this is for those of us who don’t have that gift. Do it “without complaining.” It’s generous and friendly, pleasant and receptive. It’s in how we treat one another even when it’s inconvenient or unexpected as well as upon invitation and planned for. If it’s your gift you can use it every single day. If it’s not, we are all to be as hospitable as we can be.
1 Peter 4:10 NIV
10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.
“Spiritual gifts aren’t merely some bonus added on top of salvation. They are to be taken seriously and given our full attention (1 Timothy 4:14-15). But we need never fear that we won’t use our spiritual abilities well. After all, it is God who works through us, and He will enable the Spirit’s gifts to be utilized for both the benefit of others and His glory.” – Charles Stanley, In Touch Devotional 11-14-2020.
The manifold grace of God. It’s many featured, it’s diverse and individualized so that the same grace goes to all of us and we each receive a gift that is different from the other. Amazing.
So serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.
1 Peter 4:10 NIV
11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
We must do so with the strength God supplies so that He will be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. Amazing, really Amazing. Our gifts given by God and used to server one another bring Him the glory because of our faith in Christ Jesus.
All the glory to Him. This is Graves Into Gardens
To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.