1 Peter 4
by Philip Layton
Living for God
Discussion Questions
- Did those who died before Christ’s resurrection hear about the gospel (v 6)?
- What gifts have you been given that can be used for service (v 10)?
- Have you suffered in some way because you are a Christian? If so, what does verse 16 teach?
Share your thoughts below, or tweet about it with the #boundlessbible hashtag. Don't forget this week's Children's Challenge!
Going Deeper From 'Words of Life'
Once again Peter emphasises how important it is to live for God. Only then can we truly find peace within. Even if there are testings, trials or temptations, we can get through them all – if our lives are right before God.
We can live triumphantly! But we must stop sinning – plain and simple. We will never be perfect. We all make mistakes and mess up; we all fail, at times, to do what God wants, but it is about living for God, and him alone. About basking in the new life he has given to us.
Peter tells us to be intentional in our Christian living: self-controlled, Spirit-filled, with a servant’s heart, speaking the truth, being subservient to God. And even if we experience suffering, we are to rise above it – knowing we are embraced by God.
I read an article about a school teacher who felt utterly helpless while reading about young people and children being murdered in her own country. So, she engaged her primary class in writing letters or drawing pictures for others and then delivered them to people going through hard times – many being elderly. A single letter or picture, each in memory of a young person who had died, honouring their life. Love – covering a multitude of sins! Kindness – illuminating the darkness in our world.
Peter ends his letter tomorrow speaking about humility:
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another (5:5).
The poet TS Eliot wrote: ‘Humility is the most difficult of all virtues to achieve; nothing dies harder than the desire to think well of oneself.’
May we seek to be a humble people, sharing love with others and living daily for God.
Action
Let’s do something kind for someone today – perhaps in secret – to show love for another person.
Beverly Ivany
Image: FreeBibleImages.org