“The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 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.”
The text for this message was written by Simon Peter, Jonah’s son and Andrew’s brother, a fisher by profession, one of the first men called by Jesus. He was an apostle, an appointed leader and spokesperson of the 12 disciples, and the rock or foundation on which this new community of faith was based.
He is the first disciple to confess Jesus as the Messiah, and yet the one who denied Jesus three times during his trial when confronted by a slave girl, and still yet later, bold enough to preach before the authorities, declaring we ought to obey God rather than men.
In the closing days of his earthly ministry, Jesus predicted that Simon Peter would one day strengthen his fellow believers.
In this first of his two letters, he does just that, encouraging new Christians who were scattered from their homeland, who were experiencing persecution, even the threat of death, encouraging them to have courage, and hope, and to remain faithful.
Many beloved followers of God are encouragers, who talk the talk and walk the walk, who uplift and motivate, who have been through valley low and mountain high experiences, who know joy and despair, and who proclaim “God is good, you are somebody and with God nothing is impossible.” Thank God for our encouragers!
Beloved, Don’t ever forget that regardless of what people say about you, the naysayers, the haters, the doubters, the jealous and the envious, regardless of whatever negative names they call you, whatever of the categories they place you in: in economics whether they call you rich, poor or middle class, in politics, whether you are a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or independent, regardless of what they say you can and cannot do: you are who God says you are: blessed, redeemed, anointed, you are of God and He who is in you is greater than He who is in the world. We know our name and we will not go back!
Peter kept his God-given assignment to encourage the early Christians who were displaced, discouraged, disenfranchised, dismayed. Peter might have said to those who were being rejected because of their faith what Joshua said to the Israelites as they were entering the new land – Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and of a good courage….”
To those who were threatened with death because of their faith, he might have given them the powerful reassuring words of King David in Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You, Lord, are with me.”
To those who were thinking about deserting the faith and turning back, Peter might have quoted the words of Isaiah 40: “Have you not known, have you not heard, the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength, even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But, they that wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” A message this morning on staying the course.
Peter’s message of encouragement is also for us today.
In 1 Peter 4:7, we read the end of all things is at hand.
Satan has declared warfare.
Do you recognize any of these people? Do you know anybody like that? The greater question is “Are you like that?” Am I like that? If we see ourselves, then let us repent right now, ask God to forgive us. He is faithful and just to answer our prayer, to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Satan is on the prowl seeking whom he may destroy.
Listen to the encouragement from Peter, Peter who knew what it is like to fail, to talk too much, to boast and brag, but who was forgiven and given the assignment to lead God’s Children.
