May 18, 2016 – I Peter 4:7-8

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. I Peter 4:7-8The end.  Even the end of a good book is difficult for me.  The end of an era or a phase is difficult for those who do not like change.  The separation from an important person in our life, a child, a teen, a parent or a friend by death or space hurts us.  It’s a change.  The contemplation of the end of life here on earth is scary.  We hang on to life here on earth.  How can we be ready for that eventuality?  By holding tightly to God’s hand and our faith in Him.  How do we do this?   I Peter 4:7 says, Be disciplined in prayer and sincere.  Prayers take thought and effort, when the words are your own and come from the heart.Another way to be ready for ‘the end’, which will come as a thief in the night, is to love one another deeply.  Why? Because each person has sinned, and loving one another deeply covers many of our sins.God loves each one of us, and we receive a gift…and we are told to use that gift to serve one another.  Serving comes from loving God.  Giving to others is a picture of how God gives and serves and loves.  Have you ever counted the gifts God gives us?  First, there is the gift of life, listening to each prayer, the gift of Jesus for eternal salvation through love, He makes our pathway straight.  This is a picture of how we can serve others, listening, praying for them, speaking of the goodness of God, and loving them unconditionally.  We are to serve through the strength God supplies and not our own strength.  The ‘I can do it myself strength‘ does not glorify God through Jesus.  Our weakness is in His strength alone.  Amen!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.  I Peter 4:9-11