Peter is clear that time is short… I’ve been reminded of that recently
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
1 Peter 4:7
Living from the point of view of the end of your life is the basis of wisdom
It is better to go to a house of mourning
Ecclesiastes 7:2
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of everyone;
the living should take this to heart.
As you realise your limits, you realise you need to focus on others rather than on yourself
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:8-11
We are not facing the kind of suffering that the first-century church faced…
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
1 Peter 4:12
Suffering, though, is a central part of the Christian story.
But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
1 Peter 4:13
We need to reframe what “normal” life is
Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.
2 Timothy 2:3-4
This world will not understand those who live from Jesus’ framework of Grace and Truth rather than self-interest, and it will be normal for the world to seek to marginalise and disparage
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
1 Peter 4:14
It is important to be honest about the source of your suffering… there is no glory in suffering because you are selfish
If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
1 Peter 4:15-16
It seems that God actively plans to use the suffering of the followers of Jesus like a refiner’s fire, preparing them for a remarkable future…
For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And,
1 Peter 4:17-18
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
It seems here that Peter is explaining a little of what he mentioned earlier
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
1 Peter 4:1
Knowing life is short and that God has won the victory turns suffering into a call to act from love
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
1 Peter 4:19
This is the secret to leadership in the Christian church…
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
1 Peter 5:1-4
Because the end is near and Christ has won the victory, followers of Jesus can spend their lives on love rather than self-preservation.
- When you think about Peter’s statement, “The end of all things is near,” what emotions or reactions does it stir in you? Does thinking about the brevity of life change what feels important, or do you find yourself avoiding those thoughts?
- If someone looked at how you spend your time, energy, and attention, what would they conclude matters most to you right now? Is that what you actually want your life to be about?
- Peter says, “Above all, love each other deeply.” What makes it difficult to love people deeply in real life? Are there particular relationships where you find yourself protecting yourself rather than loving sacrificially?
- Have you ever experienced a cost for following Jesus? It may not have been persecution, but perhaps a lost opportunity, misunderstanding, criticism, rejection, or a difficult choice. What happened, and how did it affect your faith?
- Peter concludes by saying those who suffer should “continue to do good.” When life is hard, what is your natural response? What would it look like for you to keep trusting God and doing good in a specific situation you are facing right now?