God’s Varied Grace
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1Peter 4:7-11
7. The end of all things is at hand; therefore keep sane and sober for your prayers. 8. Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9. Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another. 10. As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11. whoever speaks, as one who utters oracles of God; whoever renders service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies; in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
My NIV translation of verse 7 reads: “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” Anticipating the return of Christ should influence every aspect of our lives! We are to pray for the wisdom to live correctly; for the strength to be of service to this hurting world; for the boldness to speak for those who have no voice. And we must always remember to give God the glory for our words and our actions.
Love one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. God is working in me about this. I am finding that I can be quite arrogant and judgmental if I’m not careful, when it comes to granting others mercy and deeming them worthy of God’s grace. Who am I to make that decision? The words to a song I’ve come to love say, “I’m a sinner, born in sin.” Before I ever make a statement or think a thought about someone else, it needs to begin with that phrase. The proper way to make the entire statement is then, ‘I’m a sinner, born in sin, so I do not dare judge another or presume to determine their worthiness before God.” Christ’s death covered all our sins. All of Ours. Not just mine!
In each community of Christians, God places people endowed with each spiritual gift, talent and ability to maintain the entire body. If one withholds from the community, all suffer, either in doing without, or in being burdened with extra work. God’s grace provides us everything we need. Sometimes the trick is in (1) accepting what others have to offer; (2) educating them about how Christian communities ideally operate; (3) providing an environment where all gifts are graciously accepted and deployed; (4) praising God for (1) through (3); and (4) encouraging and uplifting each other as we discover and learn how to deploy our gifts, talents and abilities in service to the community!
At first glance, “the end of all things is at hand” might seem alarmist. But some believe that the “end times” began at the incarnation. And we don’t know how long that era will be! After all, a thousand years is as a day to God! But we are to live with the absolute and certain belief that it is indeed imminent. Today, tomorrow or a thousand years from now is not the point -- the point is that when it does come - we will all be judged by how we lived the brief time lived upon the earth. Peter’s telling us that in that case, we better get busy!
So, as Christians, we are to love one another as Christ loved -- without judgment or reservation. We are to pray for wisdom and strength in order to know and carry out the purpose God set for our lives. And we are to always declare the source and reason for our service, prayer, and our very lives. To God give the glory indeed! Not only does he create us already “programmed” to seek him, he sent us his son to show us the way. Then he gives us a chance to strive for the perfection possible only through and in Jesus Christ. “To him belong glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen”
I hope today you are sane and sober in your prayers. And that you glorify God in everything you say and do.
Mary
