Scripture: 1 Peter 4.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

1 Peter 4:7-9 (NLT)
⁷ The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.
⁸ Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
⁹ Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Peter, listening to God’s instructions for His people, told the church that the world, as they knew it, is just about over. I believe that this applies to us today. All signs indicate that we are nearing the end of life on this earth. Peter warned his church that there are some important things that they must be doing while remaining here on earth, if they are to be identified with Christ and known as a Christian. Friends, I need to remind you that being a Christian today is more than just walking forward in a church service and having the pastor pray for you. If you have deliberately obeyed the voice of God and truly surrendered your life to Jesus; reading His Word and living according to the commands in His Word, then you should also be following such commands as these given by Peter. We are reminded to do some very basic things:

1. Be consistent and disciplined in your prayer life – Think about it. As we learn more from God’s Word each day we will be convicted of our shortcomings and our sin. We will want to talk to Jesus about our weaknesses and seek His strength, guidance and wisdom on how to overcome our weaknesses and live a life more aligned with His perfect design;
   
2. Show deep love for fellow Christians – The world will know us by our love. Our love for God, our love for fellow Christians and our love for the unsaved – as we will have such a desire to see them won to the Lord before it is eternally too late;
   
3. Be hospitable – instead of sharing our regrets with those that are in need, share what we have. Many times all they need is a place to lay their head, or a basic meal. So often, these are the last ones we would invite into our homes, yet we have so much to share with family and loved ones that we burst at the seams and throw so much away.
   

Peter was emphasizing the important things that the church should be doing when they know that they only have a short time remaining to correct their ways and show evidence of their citizenship. I see no difference in what we should be doing today brother and sister.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Lord Jesus, please forgive me for being so selfish. I am very much like the people that Peter loved enough to correct and remind them about their actions during a very critical time remaining in their lives. In order to live a life that is an example of You, I must follow Your will and Your way every day. Please help me to be more like You every day, and especially sensitive to those in need. You provided a way for us when there really was no other way. Please help us to love others enough to follow Your lead and provide a physical way for them while there is still time.

 

**Words underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com
**