“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.” 1 Peter 4:7-9
Devotional Thought For The Day
Christianity does make people much more serious and reflective about the realities that prevail in the world in which we live. We can no longer simply look at life the same way as others do – as nothing more than an opportunity to party hardy, to eat, drink, and make merry to the greatest degree possible and for as long as we are able. It is interesting that there are many people today who have essentially the same viewpoint and values as hedonists have had for years – and who waste an entire lifetime in consumption, gluttony, and drunkenness. Since we too like pleasure and enjoyment, their invitations have appeal to us, to our fallen nature. However, the excesses of the ungodly and the suffering they produce are sobering – and once we have looked at the costs of unbridled pleasure seeking, it is difficult to continue on in the same. So Peter remarks: “For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.” He encourages us in this contemplation and change in direction, values, and behavior: “Live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” [1 Pet. 4:2,3]
The importance of this is emphasized – “the end of all things is at hand.” The current opportunities for selfishness and sinful pleasures are coming to an end, and those committed to such things, enslaved by such things, will perish with them. So the necessity of repentance, and a change of direction and commitment, to “self-control” and “sober-mindedness.” Peter adds that “our prayers” are impacted by our lifestyle – those committed to drunkenness and pleasure have little time or inclination to pray; their minds are not set on God. However, those who repent and seek God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness discover His great love for them, His forgiveness and mercy, that His love covers a multitude of sins. In fact, “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” [1 Jn. 1:7] And this is the love, sobriety, and seriousness to which we are called – in view of what our forgiveness and redemption cost the Lord Jesus. What compels self-control and seriousness is the upward calling of God to turn away from sin and waste of human life to what is good, decent, and serving of the good of others. The shortness of time makes this compulsion emphatic.
Does this mean – as many immature and misguided Christians think – that there is no longer any room for pleasure and enjoyment of life, that God wants us to be filled with gloom and doom? Not at all – for Peter also warns us about “grumbling.” Grumpiness, grouchiness, and dark brooding is no merit badge for Christians – just as silly, affected, and hypocritical “joy” and “glee” in Christ is no genuine accomplishment. Rather, being self-controlled and sober-minded means keeping everything in proper perspective and balance. Jesus ate and enjoyed life – so much so that He was accused of being “a glutton and a drunkard.” [Luke 7:34] Yet He was also sorrowful and serious on many occasions, and He was certainly self-controlled and sober-minded, having nothing to do with sinful pleasures. He was certainly hospitable to all – having come to seek and to save that which was lost, and to save sinners with His crucifixion; yet without accepting and abetting sin and certainly without grumbling. This is the love and gravity to which we are called – and it does not exclude enjoying the life that God has given us, the use of His gifts which gladden the hearts of men.
Peter encourages us to “keep loving one another earnestly.” He asserts that “love covers a multitude of sins.” This is certainly true in regard to God’s love, and we should always keep in mind that “God is love.” Therefore, God is constantly “covering a multitude of sins.” We must not misunderstand this – as some do, to mean that if we “love” our “sins” will be covered. This is a preposterous distortion of God’s love and forgiveness of our sins. Rather, our love is to “cover” the sins of others, a “multitude of sins.” We sometimes think it our highest calling to “reveal” and “publish” the sins of others – as newscasters do. This is certainly NOT love – for love “covers a multitude of sins,” and to the extent that we do this in our relationships with others, we are loving them. Newscasters have no interest in love; they are working in the world, and according to the dictates and principles of the world. We, however, are called to be different, to love – and though this takes courage and self-control, we too are to love and forgive just as God has loved us and forgiven us. It is the most grotesque hypocrisy to relish revealing and reporting the sins of others. Lord, have mercy! May God grant us growth in true and genuine self-control and gravity, in prayer and in love and hospitality – as we also look forward to the end of all things.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, forbid that we drift back into the sensuality and lawlessness of the Gentiles, or into the grotesque distortions of the self-righteous and hypocritical legalists. Help us to truly follow You, to keep loving others, to receive Your blessings with joy and thanksgiving, and to remain upbeat and hospitable as appropriate. We long for the full blessings of Your kingdom, at the end of all things. So we continue to pray, “Even so, come Lord Jesus!” Amen.