Running with the right crowd (1Peter 4:1-11 NIV)
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 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.
Greetings Saints,
This past weekend I attended the wedding of a friend I had met while ministering in an addiction rehabilitation ministry. His story is the story of many of us – indulging in “wild, reckless living” (vs.4) that only brought ruin of relationships, self and soul. But, in the middle of his darkest days God stepped in and saved him from sure destruction, even death. Now, here he was, surrounded by a new crowd of friends who loved him and wanted the best for him, celebrating his marriage to a beautiful woman - two individuals God had rescued from the darkness, and brought into His glorious light. It is the story of grace, of unconditional love; of redemption, restoration, and renewal. It is a story many people got to be part of as we all celebrated the amazing power of God in salvation!
Today’s passage speaks to the power of God to so transform an individual, that that person is done living for the flesh, the world and the devil. They are ready to suffer for Christ – to follow Him no matter what the cost. Today’s passage is one of consecration and surrender to the King, where one says, “I have had enough of living for this corrupt world, I am choosing to go ‘all in’ for Jesus!” Are you there yet…am I? It is about counting the cost, and choosing to be finally crucified with Christ and accept the fact that, “I no longer live, Christ lives in me…and I live for Him (Gal. 2:20). The Apostle Peter had made that choice! And he says very clearly in verse 1, a person who is ready to die for Jesus is done with sin – done with serving self, indulging in fleshly things, but now they live solely to do the will of the Savior, even if that means dying for Him. Friends, as a Christian matures in their walk with the Lord, they should at some point, come to that place of total surrender, where their life does not matter anymore. The New Testament knows no other type of follower of Jesus. Getting to the point where nothing matters but God and His will, or Jesus and His kingdom, is the death that Jesus calls us to die. All four gospels call us to this level of discipleship, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self” (Luke 9:23-25).
The words Selfish Christian are oxymorons; they are incongruous - They just can’t exist together. That is the contrast in our text today. Verses 1-6 speak of those who live for themselves, whereas verses 7-11 speak of those who live for others. That is a clear sign of Christian maturity! So which crowd are you running with? Are you living to gratify your own desires with the friends/family in your old life; or are you living for Jesus serving your new family of God with what God has given you? One group brings judgment on themselves, the other group brings praise to God.
This past weekend at the wedding, I met a bunch of people who had turned their back on their old lives, and had surrendered themselves to serving Jesus. They were new creations in Christ, the old was gone and they were living out their new reality serving one another and the community they are in. Some were hardened criminals, who had been transformed by the love of God in Christ Jesus. Now they were, “Loving each other deeply…using whatever gift to serve others”. Friends, the Kingdom of God is one where drug addicts and criminals are now loving Jesus and loving each other. It is a place where people are being led out of sinful and selfish lifestyles and being transformed to lay down their lives for their King and His people. The key to becoming who Jesus wants us to be is to obey the command Peter states at the outset, “arm yourselves also with the same attitude” as Jesus who was willing to suffer in His body, not for Himself but for the sake of others. It is that attitude He taught His disciples, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). It doesn’t matter how old you are…it’s time to grow up! The end is near! It’s not about you! Let’s mature into servants who are not selfish but seeing the needs of our faith community and meeting them with the gifts God has given us. Let’s run with the crowd that Jesus runs with!
Have a great week dying to self :)
"Advancing the Kingdom of God by releasing Spirit-filled followers to serve Jesus in freedom and joy."
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