November 13
Bible Reading: 1 Peter 4
1 Peter 4:7-11, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Remember Chicken Little? That story, about a chicken who goes about yelling “the sky is falling,” actually arose from an old European folk tale. In 1943, Walt Disney created a short film about Chicken Little. It was an anti-Nazi film speaking to the evils of mass hysteria. Like with Chicken Little, the Apostle Peter also spoke about the world coming to an end, but his was no folk tale!
Some might suppose that Peter was mistaken, because it has been nearly two thousand years since he spoke of such things. But he was speaking of the imminence of Christ’s return, not its immediacy. Christ’s return is imminent, meaning it could happen at any time. John MacArthur has commented on this matter:
“A natural reading of the New Testament yields the truth that to the early church Jesus’ coming was imminent; that is, that it could happen at any time. They believed that He could come back for them in their lifetime. For the early church, imminence contained elements both of certainty and uncertainty. They were certain that Jesus would one day return, but (unlike numerous modern date setters) were uncertain when. Not knowing when He might return, they wisely lived prepared for and hoping for Jesus to return at any moment.”
John MacArthur
There are many who are even now preparing for some kind of future doomsday. They build shelters and stockpile supplies, but their motivation does not arise from a spiritual concern. Peter’s instructions emphasize the importance of the spiritual and moral obligations for God’s children in light of the pending return of Christ.
The imminence of Christ’s return challenges us to be “self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers” (1 Peter 4:7). We are to “continue steadfastly in prayer,” but mundane affairs and countless distractions work against our resolve and devotion (Colossians 4:2). Our thoughts and behavior need to be as those awake to the reality of Christ’s coming (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8).
In view of the imminence of Christ’s return, we are to fervently love one another. This is something we are to do “above all” (1 Peter 4:8). Peter had previously written of the need to love one another in this manner (1 Peter 1:22). This kind of sincere and earnest love for one another is to characterize the lives of Christ’s followers, as they await their Lord and Savior (John 13:34-35).
There is also the need to show hospitality. The Greek word translated “hospitality” means literally to be “friendly to strangers.” Hospitality involves more than entertaining guests and is especially called for in times of need or persecution (Acts 2:45; Matthew 26:35-40).
The imminence of Christ’s return motivates us to fully utilize our spiritual gifts. Every believer in Christ has received a gift. Whereas the Apostle Paul lists various gifts (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-10, 27-30; Ephesians 4:11), Peter speaks of two broad categories—serving gifts and speaking gifts. “As good stewards of God’s varied grace,” believers are to use their gifts “to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10). Those serving are to serve “by the strength that God supplies” (1 Peter 4:11). Those speaking are to speak as “one who speaks the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). Gifts are to be used for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7), to the building up of the body (Ephesians 4:12), and to the glory of God (1 Peter 4:11).
J. Vernon McGee spoke of the need to live our lives with a view to Christ’s soon return, “Today we see a lot of careless, slipshod living, but also a great emphasis on prophecy. I hear people say, ‘Oh, I’m waiting for the Lord to come!’ Brother, my question is not whether you are looking for the Lord to come, but how are you living down here? How you live down here determines whether or not you are really looking for the Lord to come.”
J. Vernon McGee
We don’t know exactly when Christ is returning, but we know that His return is imminent. In view of this, we need to pray earnestly, love fervently, care purposefully, and serve wholeheartedly.
Live each day as if Jesus’ coming is imminent. For it is!
Faithful and true would He find us here
If He should come today?
Watching in gladness and not in fear,
If He should come today?
Signs of His coming multiply,
Morning light breaks in eastern sky;
Watch, for the time is drawing nigh–
What if it were today?
LookingtoJesus 