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About-Him.Com Devotional 02-13-2010
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1Peter 4:7-11 - The End of All Things is At Hand

Text: 1Peter4:7 ¶  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

It has been said that we should be prepared for Jesus to return today and be prepared to serve Him until the end of our days, if He doesn’t. The apostle Peter tells us in 2Peter 3:3 that in the last days, there would be scoffers asking, “Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were from the beginning of the creation.” Just as the ancient world perished in the flood, this present world is destined for a day of judgment in which it will be destroyed by fire.  God is in no hurry, He is longsuffering and not willing for any to perish (Jn. 3:16-17), but that all men come to repentance. A thousand years is as a day with the Lord, however He will keep His promise in His own time. Knowing all of this, should we not demonstrate godliness in our manner of living (2 Peter 3:11)?  Jesus will return for his own (Jn. 14:3). Every eye shall see Him and those  who pierced Him and all inhabitants of the world will wail because of Him (Re. 1:7). I used to argue end time scenarios, but gave that up as an exercise in futility. All I know is that Jesus said that no man would know the day or the hour of His return (Mt. 24:42, 25:13). It could be at midnight or any other time of the day (pre-trib, mid-trib or post trib?). We don’t know when, but Jesus warns us to not be caught sleeping when He does return (Mk. 13:35-36). Our salvation depends on our enduring until the end (Mt. 24:13).  

Other New Testament writers stressed the coming of Jesus.  Paul said that the night is far spent, the day is at hand, thus we should put off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light (Ro. 13:12). In Philippians 4:5 he urges us to let our moderate manner of living be seen by all, because the Lord is at hand. Hebrews 10:25 tells us to not fail to assemble together as we see the day of the Lord approaching. James 5:8-9 tells us to patiently establish our hearts and to not hold on to grudges against a brother, because the coming of the Lord is drawing near and the Judge is standing at the door. 1 John 2:18 states that it is the last time and 1Peter 1:13 tells us to  gird up the loins of our mind, to be sober, and to hope for the eternal grace that we will receive when we see Jesus. Jesus said that He would come as a thief in the night and that we should keep our garments clean (Rev. 16:15).  

Text: 1Peter4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.  

John, the apostle of love left us some stern words. He said that the fact that we loved one another was proof that we had passed from death unto life and that if we didn’t love others it was proof that we were abiding in death (1 Jn. 3:14). We cannot say that we know God who is the very essence of love and hate our brother (1Jn. 4:8,20).  

1Corinthians  13:4 ¶ Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 ¶ Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away.  


1 Timothy 1:5 sums it up quite well:  “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and [of] a good conscience, and [of] faith unfeigned:”  

Text: 1Peter4:10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  
The parables of the Pounds and the Talents  show us that we all have received abilities from the Lord, some more than others (Ro. 12:6-8). We will all have to give an accounting of the gifts that have  been entrusted to us (Ro. 14:10) and unto whom much is given, much is required (Lu. 12:48). Some have been entrusted with prophesy, others with ministry and exhortation. Giving, ruling and showing mercy are also gifts that have been given to individuals as the Lord wills (1 Co.12:7-11; Ro. 12:6-8). We are all members of the body of Christ, but we don‘t all have the same function. Some members are more visible , but all are important. If a person loses their ugly toes, they have a difficult time maintaining their balance. There is a great need for spiritual balance in the body of Christ, so we need some spiritual toes (1 Co. 12:14-26).  

Text: 1Peter4:11  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.  

If we speak as the oracles of God, we speak with authority, as God gives us utterance. Our sole aim in to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and not ourselves.  We need to be sure of what we are saying because Jesus said that if we break one of His least commandments and teach others to do likewise we would be the least in the kingdom of heaven. If we keep and teach His commandments, we will be great in the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 5:19). That is an awesome responsibility. In Acts 20:28, Paul urged the Ephesian elders to, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”  

Jesus said that whoever desired to be chief would have to be the servant of all (Mk. 10:44). When we speak as the oracles of God, we only speak that which is edifying and which ministers grace to the hearers (Eph. 4:29). Our speech is to be always with grace and seasoned with salt, that we may know how to answer every man that asks a question of us (Co. 4:6). We are to be  swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath (Ja. 1:19).  

The word of God is alive and powerful (He. 4:12). We preach the word, instant in season and out of season. We are to reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine (2 Ti. 4:2 ). We hold forth the word of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation and world (Php. 2:15-16). When we speak as the oracles of God, we rightly divide the word and speak it as it is written, relying on God to give an increase (1 Co. 3:6-7).  

Everything that we do, in word or in deed, we do in the name of the Lord Jesus as we give thanks to God by Him (Col.3:17).  If we do all in the name of Jesus, it leaves no room to promote self. We can’t glorify Him and ourselves at the same time. If we promote ourselves, it is idolatry.  

1 Timothy1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.  

Jude 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.  

Ephesians 3:21 Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.


 
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We have all eternity to celebrate our victories, but only one short hour before sunset in which to win them. - Robert Moffat  

Free Ebooks That You Can Download.

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