I Peter 4:1-2 Arm yourselves with the same way of thinking as this----
Live for the rest of your time no longer for human passions
but for the will of God.
I've spent my past days living in sensuality, passions, lawless idolatry, etc...no more...
I Peter 4:7-8 Be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a mulititude of sins.
I Peter 4:10 Use your gifts to serve. Good stewards of God's varied grace. By the Strength that God supplies so that in EVERYTHING God may be glorified.
I Peter 4:12 And don't be surprised at the fiery trials that come upon you to test you as though scomething strange were happening to you. Rejoice and Be Glad when His Glory is revealed. For the Spirit of Glory AND the Spirit of God rests upon you when you suffer well.
I Peter 4:19 Suffer according to God's Will. Entrust your soul to a Faithful Creator while doing good.
This was so meaty to me, I am surprised, it must be because of the way I've been praying the past few days. But, oh, my...." the end of all things is at hand, therefore be self controlled and be sober minded FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR PRAYERS. Above all keep loving one another earnestly since love covers a multitude of sins.......
ReplyDeleteI do believe we are in the last days and oh, how I want my prayers heard and answered for my loved ones and for His kingdom, so I need to be self controlled and sober minded in order to hear His heart to know what to pray.
Something I had never seen before was in vs 15....He exhorts us to not suffer as a murderer or thief or evil doer and then He adds or as a meddler.......not a word that you might expect to be listed there, how many of us and those in the body of Christ will/may suffer because we were a meddler in the body of Christ and did not seek unity but sought to sow discord within the body of Christ.
This right now has nothing to do with the reading, but in the last sentence I just typed I did not hold the shift key down long enough and Christ was not capitalized and spell check marked it as being misspelled. WOW.....
And then lastly, 1Peter 4:17-19
For it is time for judgment to begin at the house of God and IF it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the the word of God.
Sisters if we need to be purged and I am sure we do, the I shudder to think of those who are outside the body of Christ. It sorta makes it all the more urgent to spread the Word and to live it so that others may be spared and have eternal life.
Stewards of God's Grace
ReplyDeleteYou know we have the "how" answered from yesterday in these verses. How do we live? How do we serve? How in this world do we suffer and rejoice? LOTS of ways to conduct our lives in these verses. Not a strategy but a saved heart's grateful response. . .
I hadn't seen that either (for the sake of your prayers) to be sober minded and self controlled. Our judgment will be bearable but the unsaved's is unfathomable. He is coming soon. We must be ready.
Whom do you know that needs prayer today? Shall we lift their names together before His Throne of Grace and Salvation?
Holy Father, Help each of us to suffer well when we are tested, using Your Grace as our guide. Our hearts can barely imagine what it will be to stand before Your Judgment Seat and know solely by Your Son's Blood covering Righteousness, we will be able to be in Your holy Presence without perishing. We pray for the lost (members of my family, my brother, my friend Cathy, whom You have laid on my heart this morning) that they may be able to stand before You, too, one Day by Jesus's Blood, and be saved for Eternity. I pray for and with each of my friends here who reads this prayer and has loved ones on their heart who need You so desperately. Use us, grant us wisdom in their presence, to be sound Witnesses testifying of Your Grace, with or without words, to help them see Your Light of Salvation.
Help our prayers to remember the Big Things in these last Days, dear Lord. In the Sweetest Name I know, Jesus Christ, Amen.