Scripture to Read: 1 Peter 4:7
This week we focus on 1 Peter 4:7–11, as God speaks to us about several different areas of our lives and how we must submit to Him and walk in obedience to Him. God says, in 1 Peter 4:7, The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. When God led Peter to write this, as we know, the believers who first received this letter were facing incredibly intense persecution. Many believers were killed because they placed their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. So, when God had Peter write, “the end of all things is near,” it would have been an incredible word of encouragement to all of the believers. God’s Word should still be that awesome word of encouragement for us today. When we consider that our Lord Jesus Christ could return any day, we understand that indeed “the end of all things is near.” Though it has been two thousand plus years since 1 Peter was first written, we must live with that incredible expectation of the coming of our King. When we live with the expectation of Christ’s return, we have this fantastic hunger and thirst to walk in obedience to Him. We have this passionate desire to tell others about Him because we don’t want anyone left behind. We also have this excitement of knowing, no matter what we’re facing, this world is not our home, and we’ll get to go home and be with our Lord very soon. Let this truth take root in you today!
Challenge & Application
· Are you walking each day with the great expectation of Christ’s return for His church? If yes, how? If no, why?
· What needs to change in your heart and life to live with the great expectation of the coming of our Lord?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!