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.)

 

 

 

The Strong Silent Type

Proverbs 28:25-26

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2028%3A25-26&version=NIV;NKJV

 

 

Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s, the most popular genre for TV shows and movies was a

Western. The shows were literally littered with leading men who all had the same characteristic… the strong silent type. John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Gary Cooper and Randolph Scott, to name a few, were self-made men who forged their way to survive against the bad guys in the western frontier.

 

However, the strong silent type, is just as popular today as it was then. Consider Arnold Schwarzenegger, Matt Damon, Ryan Gosling, James Gandolfini, Denzell Washington, and Liam Neeson. Even in comedy the role has been popular. Ed Asner in The Mary Tyler Moore Show fit the role perfectly.

 

So you might ask, what’s wrong with being a strong silent type? Absolutely nothing! But it does make you wonder, what the fascination with that character role is. I would suggest that, to some extent, it has to do with human pride and the desire to control our lives.

 

Simon and Garfunkel sang a song called “I am a Rock”. They would seem to confirm this reason.

 

I've built walls.
A fortress deep and mighty. That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship, friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock. I am an island.

 

“I don’t need your help, thank you very much. I can take care of myself”. In one form or another, we have all said this to others, to ourselves and to God. “Thanks for the offer God, but I’ve got it”. That is, until we end up in a jam.

 

If you’re a parent, you spend your whole life raising your children to become independent; to live on their own; to learn how to be responsible. Those are important skills and attributes for all of us to develop. But human nature goes wild, and we lose track of who we are, whose we are and whom we serve.

 

Solomon gives us wise advice in these two verses. Here are two different translations that give two unique perspectives. Read them; meditate on them; and let God’s Spirit speak to your heart and change you through them.

 

²⁵ The greedy stir up conflict,
    but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.

²⁶ Those who trust in themselves are fools,
    but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.            NIV

 

²⁵ He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

²⁶ He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.    NKJV

 

  

(If God has spoken to you through this blog, please feel free to share it with others.)

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