Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
… because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Summary: Peter continues his thought on loving deeply by adding that love “covers over” sins. God models the power of love by forgiving our sin.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:8 (b) — Formula for Forgiveness”
Above all, love each other deeply…
Summary: Peter echoes the Great Commandment (Matthew 22: 37-40) when he tells us to love each other deeply.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:8 (a) — Deep Love”
Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
Summary: Peter draws our attention to our need to approach God properly when we pray so that it is possible to pray.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:7 (b) — Primer on Prayer”
The end of all things is near.
Summary: The end of all things is not the end for everything. In truth, it is the beginning.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:7 (a) — The End of all Things”
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.
Summary: A Rorschach test is to psychology what a mirror is to the face. God has placed occasional Rorschach tests in His Word. Today’s passage is one of them.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:6 — Rorschach Test”
But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Summary: The “living and the dead” does not mean that being dead is the end of the road. When called before the Judge, both the living and the dead will have to give account.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:5 — Giving Account”
They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.
Summary: Peter offers us insight into what to expect when we turn our back on the world’s ways. Social pressure is a real thing and surprisingly powerful when we are confronted with it face to face.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:4 — Cheap Kite”
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.
Summary: Peter gives us a short list of things pagans do. He does not rub our noses in it, but simply says we have done enough in the past. Now is the time to live for God.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:3 — Enough”
As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
Summary: There are two ways to try and live for God. One works and the other doesn’t. The one that works is to fill our lives with Jesus, who points us to God.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4: 2 — More Jesus”
… because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
Summary: Peter tells us that it is possible to be ”done with sin.” The price is to stay focused on Christ and adopt Christ’s attitude toward suffering. Today we explore what this means.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:1 (b) — Done with Sin”