I think I’m going to blog first. As I was reading from my Bible study this morning I was struck from a passage in 1 Peter 4. Peter was talking about our sinful life in the past giving six vices and then referring to our calling to live for God now, giving the ways Christians must live now. I was struck in my spirit by his words. Sometimes I wish someone would have told me many years ago “Susan don’t do this, it’s not the right way, but do this, it is the right way to walk. It would have saved me many years of trying to figure it out by myself and winding up on my behind so many times. In hope that these admonitions can help someone else, for God’s Word does not return void He says.
Peter is saying do not be involved with debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. Those people who are involved with partying will think it strange that you, who believe in Christ and in doing it His Way, refuse to join with them in their revelry. More than this, they will abuse you or make fun of you or just drop you. Believers should remember that their accusers would themselves have to answer before the Judge of the living and the dead at the last day.
Then Peter tells us what we should be doing and how we can live as Christ. “Be clear minded and self controlled, love each other deeply, offer hospitality, and if anyone speaks, do it as one speaking the very words of God.” Thinking! Loving! Serving! Speaking! Four important ingredients of the Christian life, each to be done so that others are helped and God is glorified. WOW!
My daily devotions and maybe yours too…..
1 Peter 4
1SO, SINCE Christ suffered in the flesh [a]for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and [b]purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having [c]the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God],
2So that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living by [his] human appetites and desires, but [he lives] for what God wills.
3For the time that is past already suffices for doing what the Gentiles like to do--living [as you have done] in shameless, insolent wantonness, in lustful desires, drunkenness, reveling, drinking bouts and abominable, lawless idolatries.
4They are astonished and think it very queer that you do not now run hand in hand with them in the same excesses of dissipation, and they abuse [you].
5But they will have to give an account to Him Who is ready to judge and pass sentence on the living and the dead.
6For this is why the good news (the Gospel) was preached [[d]in their lifetime] even to the dead, that though judged in fleshly bodies as men are, they might live in the spirit as God does.
7But the end and culmination of all things has now come near; keep sound minded and self-restrained and alert therefore for [the practice of] prayer.
8Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and [e]disregards the offenses of others].(A)
9Practice hospitality to one another (those of the household of faith). [Be hospitable, be a lover of strangers, with brotherly affection for the unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor, and all others who come your way who are of Christ's body.] And [in each instance] do it ungrudgingly (cordially and graciously, without complaining but as representing Him).
10As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God's many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the [f]extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor].
11Whoever speaks, [let him do it as one who utters] oracles of God; whoever renders service, [let him do it] as with the strength which God furnishes [g]abundantly, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever (through endless ages). Amen (so be it).