Peter's Pen 1st Peter 4:8-11

1 Peter 4:8-11

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 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.     ESV

Above all !!!!!!!
Is there any part of "above all" I need to explain?
This isn't calling us to some mushy, touchy feely relationship with one another - although there's nothing wrong with that.  But it is calling us to a very real, truth (scripture) based intimate relationship with one another.

"Earnestly" = without ceasing, fervently - or as I prefer "stretched out."

There's a hint here we need to pay attention to.  Peter writes, "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling."  
This is a "secret displeasure not openly avowed."  In short, we are to love one another without reserve or resentment.  Ouch!  But let's be honest, we all struggle with the fellow believer who is (actually or seemingly) always in need, always asking, always struggling.  It seems that no matter the length or depth of our "hospitality," they never grow; they never make the progress we think they ought to make.

But, have you ever thought about the idea that they may be in your circle of influence for your sake?  Have you ever stopped to consider that it is not really their need God desires to meet but a need of your own that you haven't seen or addressed?

Paul writes of all his suffering as being for our sake; for our blessing and benefit.  Did you ever consider that though Paul coming to town would be exciting, it also brought danger and opposition?  Did those early believers ever get tired or resentful of Paul's constant danger and need?  I don't think so.

One thing we forget when we are challenged in this way.  We are to do what we can, not what we can't.  We are to sacrifice - yes.  Commit physical or material suicide? No!  There are limits to what God provides to us for others.  Certainly we tend to think others may ask too much, but perhaps we want to keep too much.

Also, we must consider, clear minded and soberly (verse 6), if and how we are called to meet their needs.  Sometimes "No," is the right answer.  Sometimes we have to be wiser than they are as to what they need.  Sometimes we have to give or do more than we are comfortable with.  This is the "stretched out" part of the love we are to give.

God may not have provided me with enough to meet all their needs.  Through prayer and counsel, I must determine what, if anything, I can do through His provision.  Yes, we can do too much for those in need, keeping them from the repentance and growth God desires for them.

This is the point of verses 10-11.  We are to do everything we can with what He has given us that He might be glorified.

We are to serve with, "the strength (or means) that God provides."  Hello!!!!  This is never some "from the hip" kind of service.  This is a considered prayerful and honest service.  NOT some knee jerk, unthinking reaction to a need.

Especially in these cases, we desperately need our minds to inform our affections (feeling).  We may have deep and powerful feelings about their condition but it is prayerful thought and even wise counsel that will lead us to the best service.

Not to be too simple but that's why God made Deacons.  Duhhhhhh.....  It is a New Covenant order for the needs of the flock to be brought to the Deacons and through their prayer and consideration needs are met.  It should not be a matter of a brother or sister going house to house, person to person, but rather a matter of them taking their need to those called and commissioned to that work.  It really is a great system that relieves them of the embarrassment of feeling like they are begging.  It also enables us to have confidence in the needs being presented by the Deacons and how we respond to them.  Confidentiality and confidence in asking and receiving as well as giving and doing are built-in blessings of the Deaconate.


 

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 2:15

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.   (1Pe 2:15)

Doing good

silences

the ignorance

of foolish people

this is the will of God

I didn’t include this with verses 13-14 on purpose, though it certainly can be applied there.  However, I think that it is important that we consider this verse apart from or rather in a broader application than just the civil government.

This, “doing good,” is specific to those in whom He lives.  For me, that makes it a good of eternal significance.  It’s not “just” good, it is very good.

But we have to ensure that the good we do is distinctly His good.  Not only do I mean that it is a good thing we are called to in the Word, but that it is a good thing in the Spirit as well.

I can do a lot of good things with unbelievers and that is a good thing.  But I am convicted that when I do these good things, He must be glorified – not obscured as my motive.  I have a problem with “stealth” good works.  Not good works where “I” am anonymous, but works in and for Him where He is anonymous.

I’ve been told that this obvious expression of motive can be offensive to those who are not believers – but – well – uhhhh.  What’s the point if He is not glorified - ?

Our good doings need to be seen as coming from Him – not us – Him.  Are we to put the light under a basket so people won’t have to squint at the light?

No – I’m not saying you obnoxiously push Him in their faces, but you do need to let it be known, somehow, that you are there because you are His.  We are to be known as His and our doings are to be known as His.

On the lite side:

I’m considering a lapel pin or hat that has “4X,” on it – “For Christ.”  I know some folks object to the “X” being used for Christ but it is a valid historical idea.  “X” is the first letter in the Greek Xristos (Christ).  I just think it would be a subtle question raiser.

Remember, it is our good behavior (doing and talking) that will silence those who do not know Him.  

Michael Sanders, Chaplain

ms@tc2v1.com

www.tc2v1.com

Other writings and lessons on tc2v1 site.

Ministered to in ministering to......

There are giants in these days, though the times are not such as to allow them room to display their gigantic strength; in many a humble cot, in many a crowded workshop, in many a village manse there are to be found men of the house of David, men after God’s own heart, anointed with the holy oil.   Spurgeon, Charles Haddon (2010-08-03). Till He Come - Enhanced Version (Kindle Locations 962-963). Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Kindle Edition.

I have found and am still finding that though the men and women of known faith – of public faith – are worthy counselors,  it is the guiet and humble believer whose voice is little heard from whom I receive my greatest blessings.  It is from their walks and especially their prayer that God richly blesses me.

They think themselves poor and weak and in need for all things and in doing so they keep their eyes, minds and hearts focused on the Lord who has promised them His friendship and care.  It is their clear awareness and humble acceptance of their deep and broad need for Him to be strong in every aspect of their lives that is a much needed and kindly given reproach to me.

They have a special sense of things not being Ok and a pervasive hunger to lean solely upon His grace, mercy and power.  They speak of His being the only provisions they trust.  They speak of Him “speaking” to them not in audible voices, though He can, but rather through the guidance of the Word and the Spirit as well as a surrender to listen.

There are two people and one family to who I have been blessed to minister of late.  And I laugh.  In their coming to me for encouragement and counsel it has been I who have been given such.  They have been His ministers in my live, His “come along side” earthly helpers who, utterly unaware of the work He is doing through them,  spread the message of His faithfulness and His deep desire for us to utterly depend upon Him.  They have shown me that it is only when I am distracted by the world, the flesh or perhaps the devil that I am cast down in myself, by myself.

One in particular recommended a book that has greatly impacted his walk.  Perhaps sensing my skepticism he finally bought me a copy of the book.  For weeks it lay by the sofa on my little table.  I couldn’t bring myself to read it but I couldn’t shelve it either.  So it sat.

Finally, a few days ago, out of a sense of obligation to acknowledge the gift, I picked it up and began to read.  I did not put it down until I have read it all.  Today, it is dog-eared and marked and waiting to have the notes transcribed.  It is directly impacting my perspective and especially my heart.

Did I learn something “new.”  Well, only if seeing the Way of faith through someone else’s eyes and heart is “new,”  yes.  No new truths were revealed in the book but the striking difference in the author’s perspective was a real conviction.  The reality of how simply and faithfully God works and moves in the truly dark places in the world was a smack in the back of the head.

I did my “due diligence” on the author and I was shocked at how little I could find.  I looked hard to find evidence to feed my skepticism but I could find none.  My big hurdle came from his claim to have fasted fo 70+ days while in prison and being beaten with great regularity.  My reaction, “Yeah, right, 70+ days??”

In the book he talks about that experience.  He tells us that he was not fasting to grow closer to the Lord or be released from prison.  Rather he was praying to die and to be released from what he was going through.  Does he then talk about how God’s will was for him to live and do a bunch of great things etc, etc, etc???  Nope.  He simply relates that he was wanting to die and be with the Lord and the Lord said, “Not now.”

What was so shocking to me was that I, in my own comfortable western way, have sought the same thing.  I have, in the depths of despondency and pain, lay on my bed and asked the Lord to take me home.  My situation, compared to his, is certainly a paltry and minor thing but I “knew” the feeling, the despair he writes about.  I too had “heard” the Lord’s, “Not now.”

Maybe it’s just me, and I hope so, but the danger of “professional pride,” or “seminary sanctity,” is very real to me.  I was taught that I was to have all the answers – I was the “pro.”  Well I work to make myself remember that I only know the one in whom all the answers are found, I have NO exclusive claim to those answers and He doesn’t always give them through me.

I have also learned that regardless of our western proclivity for order, structure and boxes He does not NEED them.  Not that they are wrong but rather, when they are not possible, He is not hindered in any way, shape or form.

I am learning that the Holy Spirit is much neglected (or hampered) by many of us (me too).  For whatever reason we shrink from Him hence we deprive ourselves of His ministry.  But when we allow aberrant and strange supposed manifestations of the Spirit to make us hesitant for His ministry it is akin to clogging an artery to our hearts.  Yet, Jesus Himself tells us the purpose and we see the might of the Spirit throughout the Word.  It is the Spirit that is the seal the provenance of our citizenship  in the Kingdom and it is the Spirit working in us that conforms us to His likeness.  Oh, we certainly are invited to help – but we must be very careful not to hinder.

Those of us who are called to the role of evangelist, shepherd or teacher must accept the purpose of our calling which is to equip the saints for works of – yep – ministry.  When we do we will find ourselves ministered to in ways we do not expect by the very ones we so equip.

Me 081312 - What a blessed day!

Me – 081312  what a blessed day!

Today has been unusual.  God is – well – really really neat ;-}.

I had the privilege today of having two incredible conversations with two believers I had never met.  They were complete strangers and for one reason or another (long story) they came over and asked if they could talk to me. 

One was a young lady with a heart for missions who was interviewing at Bou.  The other was a gentleman who had just seen me in Caribou several times.

The conversations began simply but quite soon focused on the faith and serving God and how people were hungry for that today.  Actually, hungry for it to be simple – vanilla – not complicated – with no agenda other than Him.  The richness of what they shared was a very great blessing to me.  We are a little distant from one another in some ways but regardless we all have a hunger for the church to just be the church and for believes (that would be ourselves first) to grow in Him.

Now I ask – why did God make this happen?  Certainly it was a diversion from my worries and anxiety but it became so much more.  It was like we had not “just” met but rather like we had “known” one another prior to.  There was a commonality between us that seemed to be the “heart” part of the faith.

Not the mushy, gooey, loosy-goosy kind of heart stuff but real “heart for God” stuff.  I was just amazed by them both and blessed.  Their desire to serve Him was very clear and it was also clear he was working in their lives, leading them closer and closer to finding the how of it.

The question remains, “Why was I so blessed.”  The answer I like is, “Cause He wanted to bless you – you needed it.”  Obvious huh? 

But God never does anything that He does doesn’t have a lesson attached to.  I have learned that I have brothers and sisters out there who are yearning to grow in Him.  I learned that some of my desires and hopes are shared by complete strangers.  I’ve learned that there is a need in the really big body for encouragement and open dialogue.  For sharing a little more intimately than we would with someone we know. 

These weren’t what I would call theological or doctrinal discussion but just a conversation between believing people who want and have a need to serve Him and know Him better.  It was all about Him and our hearts and the hopes and dreams He puts in them. 

In both conversations there was sharing of God dealing with us and us dealing with others “right where they are” instead of where we think or even know they should be.  We talked of the mission field in the world and the mission field in the church. 

It was a blessing to talk with like hearted folks – and I am grateful to Him and them (and to David J. – long story).