The End is Near

1 Peter 4:7-11

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204%3A7-11&version=NIV;NLT

  

⁷ The end of the world is coming soon

 

What do you think of when you see someone carrying a sign with these words on it? Christians have been saying this for two thousand years. Ever since Jesus ascended into the Heavens, the apostles and all the first century believers thought he would be returning in the near future.

 

⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 2 Peter 3:8         NIV

 

So much for our sense of time. But for the believers in the first century, the idea that Jesus would be returning soon provided them with a sense of urgency. It gave them hope in the face of desperate circumstances; of terrible persecution. After all, what are Peter’s next words following, “The end is coming soon…

 

…therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. ⁸ Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.  NLT

 

In the week leading up to the posting of this blog, I was on vacation. The week before vacation was crazy. I had to get everything done for work that I would’ve done during the week of vacation. And this blog had to be done before leaving. Vacation brings a sense of urgency to us; a sense of what’s really and truly important.

 

In a similar, but much more eternal way, Jesus returning brings us a sense of urgency; of priority; of perspective. Chances are most of us won’t see that day, but it’s not a bad idea to live our lives as if Jesus’ return is eminent.

 

The end of the world is coming soon. It just depends on how you define soon right? Just think of it as getting ready for a vacation.

 

 

 

 

Ready, Fire, Aim!

1 Peter 4:7-11

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204%3A7-11&version=NIV;NLT

 

 

Peter was a “ready, fire, aim” kinda’ guy. He acted before he thought. He spoke before he considered the consequences. After all, he was a man’s man who lived by his actions, not by thoughtful introspection.

 

During the three years of Jesus’ ministry, Peter would often say what the other disciples were only thinking. He seemed to have no resistors to prevent whatever thought was going through his mind, from coming out of his mouth. The result was that Peter would find himself sticking his foot in his mouth.

 

But Peter was also a leader, and he genuinely loved Christ. He had many gifts and Jesus saw this. So as Jesus was preparing for his death and resurrection, he asked Peter, “Do you love me”? Jesus was putting Peter in charge, not that Peter seemed to need this; he took charge regardless. But something changed after this.

 

Instead of speaking or acting without thinking, he gave thoughtful consideration. Peter wrote this letter to believers who were under great pressure of persecution. They needed every insight, every teaching, every encouragement that they could get.

 

One thing Peter had learned was, you can’t make it on your own. You need others to support and encourage you. He had lived his life as a self-made man who ran a competitive business that depended on his skills, experience and immediate action. He had relied on himself to survive.

 

But he had changed. And when he changed, he knew the importance of teamwork; of family; of friendship; of being a body of believers. He knew the importance of trust and faith in others. He knew the importance of relying on others.

 

¹⁰ God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. ¹¹ Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. NLT

 

“Ready, fire, aim” was the old Peter. The new Peter was all about using his gifts in the service of the Lord, and encouraging others to do the same.

 

 

(You might also read Romans 12:4-8 & 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.)

 

 

 

It's Confession Time

Colossians 3:12-17

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203%3A12-17&version=NIV;NLT

 

Do you notice anything unusual about this picture? Does anything look out of place? What about the grill? Aren’t grills normally on your deck in the back of the house? But this one is on the patio in the front of a condo…. my condo.

 

For the past nine years our grill has been on the deck in the back until this year when we received a notice from our condo board that there is a state law that you can’t do that. Who would’ve thunk it? In order to comply, we moved our grill to the front patio. Problem solved right? Wrong!

 

About a month ago we received a “First Notice for Rule Enforcement” from the condo board stating that our grill was on “common property” and therefore, according to the By-Laws, must be removed immediately. Even though this is a confession, I won’t share my initial, uncensored reaction when I read this notice at the end of a long day at work.

 

Eventually, after calming down and thinking rationally, I composed what I thought was a well-reasoned and thought out letter signed by my wife and myself. It explained why we disagreed with the board’s position and backed it up with the condo By-Laws.

 

That should have been good enough for me to put this matter in the past; but it wasn’t. My anger and resentment kept poking its ugly head up from beneath the surface. Then this week, in preparation of writing this devotional, I read my verses.

 

¹² Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.           NLT

 

Darn! There are so many times it would be much easier to not be a Christian; to not have to follow Christ. I would much rather be angry and unforgiving. I prefer to justify my actions because of some perceived wrong. It’s so much easier to be angry because people don’t live up to my expectations. Then came the dagger.

 

¹⁷ And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.  NLT

 

It’s confession time. Do you feel convicted after reading these verses? I do. As a result, although I’m not sure what we will do about our grill, I most certainly need to change my attitude and to represent the Lord well.

 

 

 

What If?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%205%3A16-18&version=NIV;ESV

 

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.              ESV

 

What if your baby’s diaper pail is full and as you begin pulling the plastic bag out, it rips and… well you get the picture. Would you be rejoicing or giving thanks?

 

What if your husband, who is a farmer, is out on the tractor when a nearby driver is texting and runs off the road killing him making you a young widow and leaving your three young children without a father?

 

What if you are pregnant with your first child when the doctor tells you that your baby is still born?

 

What if, at age fifty-five, after you’ve given your heart and soul to your career, your employer informs you that you’re being let go?

 

What if your best friend from high school dies from cancer at age 66?

 

What if… life happens? Are you able to rejoice; to give thanks; to pray?

 

We’re not robots are we? We have feelings when things like this happen. We get angry. We feel defeated, depressed. We feel worthless. We want to lash out at someone, but who? God is pretty convenient sometimes.

 

How can we obey these verses? Paul wrote that this is God’s will for us, but how do we do it? In fact, it can be just as difficult to obey these verses when everything is going well as it is when life sucks.

 

Yes, life can be very painful at times. But just as Paul reminded the Thessalonian believers that God loved them; that the power of the Holy Spirit was working in them; that death is not the end, but the ultimate victory is ours through Christ - he is reminding us of these same truths as well.

 

What if when life happens you not only feel the pain or the joy of the moment, but you put yourself in the hands of God? What if you pray?