Daily Devotionals

1 Peter 4.7-11 and Mathew 25.14-30

Jesus told a story that was similar to an episode of ‘The Apprentice’ and like Lord Alan Sugar the boss was a tough cookie. The boss handed out bags of gold (NIV) to three servants, 5 to one, 2 to another and 1 to a third. The two with the most money used it to good purpose and doubled the value. The third simply buried it frozen by responsibility and fearful of losing his master’s wealth. However, the master had clearly intended the servant to use the money and so condemned him as a wicked lazy servant. He hadn’t even invested it with a bank to earn interest. The gold given to the lazy servant was taken away and he was thrown out. An illusion to final spiritual condemnation.

Matthew places this parable in the section considering the period waiting for the return of Christ and judgement. Teaching elsewhere makes clear that salvation is only by grace and not dependent upon good works or a mixture of good works and grace. The actions of the lazy servant may well indicate that they were never truly a disciple. It could refer to those who professed faith such as some of the Jewish leaders but rejected Christ. Similarly, they may be those in the church who publicly profess faith but do not really believe and are in the church for other reasons. It is clear from this parable that God expects lives to change with the gift of salvation and for believers lives to bear a spiritual profit.

Peter picks up on this teaching by firstly saying it is time to leave behind the life that was before faith in Christ, ‘For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles (non-believers) want to do’. ^{v 1 Peter 4.3} Jesus is coming, it is time to think calmly, sensibly, deliberately and prayerfully. ^{v 4,7} Jesus himself devoted himself to prayer and as his crucifixion was at hand he took himself to the garden of Gethsemane and prayed that God’s will be accomplished on earth. It is time to use the gifts and abilities that God has given us in a way that brings glory (credit) to God. ^{v 1 Peter 4.11} This raises the question, how do we set about doing that?

The starting point is a deep and sincere love for fellow Christians. Sincere love overcomes difficulties and frictions between each other that arise where people harm each other through wrong actions or words. ‘Above all, keep loving one another earnestly; since love covers a multitude of sins’. ^{1 Peter 4.8} Brotherly love is gospel testimony to the salvation work of Jesus in our lives. On the other hand, absence of brotherly love brings discredit to Christ’s name and works against the gospel.

If brotherly love is true it will be seen in our delight in spending time together and welcoming each other. Hospitality is a very important part of discipleship. This should be willingly and freely given. ‘Show hospitality to one another without grumbling’. ^{1 Peter 4.9} Luke’s gospel is known for the amount of times hospitality and food features. Hospitality takes many forms, it includes the welcome given at outreach events, meeting someone for a drink and a chat, providing for a travelling missionary, welcoming new people as well as finding ways to cement or maintain relationships.  The Old Testament strongly encourages hospitality to aliens. I have been struck by the importance inviting people from other countries to one’s home. Whether they are seeking asylum, have migrated for work reasons or here to study, it makes a huge difference to feel welcomed and loved when in an alien country. It opens up opportunities to really know people and to have important discussions. A series of brief superficial conversations is not a replacement for spending good quality time with people.

We have all received gifts from God and we are now required to steward those gifts for the sake of others rather than ourselves. ‘As each has received a gift use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace’. ^{1 Peter.4.10} Peter divides these gifts into two broad categories without prioritizing them. They are gifts of service and gifts of speech. The objective of both types of gift is the glory of God and to achieve that he has provided the strength.  ^{1 Peter 4.11} Serving can be demanding of time and strength and there is a real danger of it becoming a burden. But God has provided us with a new heart ^{1 Peter 1.22,23} that allows us to serve willingly and by doing so display God’s love for the world.

The gifts of speech are not for our own words or glory. They are to speak the ‘oracles of God’ ^{1 Peter 4.11} that is his words. God provides Christian teachers and leaders in many forms from one to one counsellors, through small group leaders to ministers and Principals of Bible Colleges. However, their role is to equip the church to enable all to speak in one way or another. The greatest thrill and miracle is one person through their personal testimony to lead another to Christ. Where one person has been greater gifted comes greater responsibility. The servant who was entrusted with 5 bags of gold multiplied it by 5 more.

Is there some obstacle to brotherly love in our life?

Is there anybody to whom you can show hospitality?

There is louder shout to come – Matt Redman

1 Peter 4. 1-11 and Mathew 24. 45-51

Imagine the scene, a wealthy member of the English Edwardian aristocracy early in the Twentieth Century divides his time between his home in the country and his London residence. He has appointed a butler in each house to manage each large set of servants. Neither household knows when the owner will return. One butler keeps everything in readiness, the house and gardens are well maintained, the kitchen is kept stocked and all the staff are supervised rigorously. Meanwhile when the owner is absent for a much longer time than usual the other butler begins to behave as if the home and servants were his own. He mistreats the staff, holds debauched parties, raiding the owner’s stocks of drink and food, leaving the house and gardens to go to rack and ruin. On return the owner becomes angry and both punishes and dismisses the butler. At the same time, he rewards the butler who manages the well run house with additional pay and responsibility.

Jesus told a similar story in Mathew 24 to illustrate to the disciples how they should live whilst waiting for his return following his ascension. The parable of the faithful and unfaithful servant is set in a passage of teaching regarding his instruction to, ‘Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.’ ^{Mathew 4.42}

Peter is confident of Christ’s return because he was a firsthand witness of Jesus’ death and then bodily resurrection. Peter was with Jesus as he promised to return and saw his ascension. If that was your personal experience then you would believe what Jesus said because you had already witnessed the naturally impossible. But Peter is concerned the next generation of new Christians may grow disappointed that Christ has not yet returned and drift off into their old life style. He then draws a sharp contrast between their old life, as a, ‘flood of debauchery’ ^{v 4.4(ESV)} and their new life as born again children of God.

Peter knows there is a constant temptation to conform to cultural pressure to live a life that is focused on immediate satisfaction of unguarded sensuality. They are surprised he says, ‘when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you’. ^{v 4.4}  He describes contemporary culture as, ‘living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties and lawless idolatry.’ ^{v 4.3} In a sense all these things are forms of idolatry in that they become things we can love more than God and godliness. They are all aspects of life that are on a continuum towards addiction. To these we could add many more or modern variants of similar repeated behaviours and compulsions. If they are not lived out in practice they can still take hold of our mental life. Life in these terms is focused upon self and whilst that may be thought to be a form of freedom it is a slavery to sin. In contrast Christ-like life is centred on love for God and others. ‘Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.’ ^{v 4.8}

To equip the Christians mentally to both resist sin and embrace life as, ‘good stewards of God’s varied grace’ ^{v 4.11} he encourages them to, ‘be self-controlled and sober-minded’ ^{v 4.7} because succumbing to sin damages our relationship with Christ and therefore impacts on our prayers. ^v4.7 To this end he advocates three strategies.

* We are to adopt Jesus’ attitude who was prepared to suffer ‘in the flesh’ ^{v 4.1} to be obedient to the Father. This was exemplified in Jesus’ prayer before his arrest, ‘Father if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done’. ^{Luke 22.42} Peter says it is time to lay aside sinful human passions and live as Jesus did for the will of God. ^{v 4.2}

• He also reminds Christians that God is the judge and we all will be judged. ^{v 4.5} This is not to detract from grace but our works will be judged as if by fire. ^{1 Corinthians 3.15}

• Our lives are to be strengthened by God, ‘in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ’. ^{v 4.11}

Is there an idol in our life that we need to bring in confession to God and seek the Holy Spirit’s strength to overcome?

Do we live with the expectation of the returning Christ in our minds?

Even so come – Chris Tomlin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFlPdNJAdOY

1 Peter 3.8-17

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart and a humble mind. ^{v 3.8}

How real is suffering for the sake of the gospel in the modern world? Wasn’t suffering simply because one was a Christian restricted to the early church and the Roman Arena? Even if there are some examples of Christians suffering why should that significantly affect me? 1 Peter 3, shows how a unified, loving, humble church in its response to suffering for righteousness declares Christ to the world. Here are two up to date examples of contemporary Christian suffering and loving responses by the global church taken from, Barnabas Aid, July/August 2020 edition.

The first new church in Uzbekistan for twenty years has just been built and registered with financial support from the global church. Hundreds of Christians will now be able to worship without breaking the law. Churches can only register in the Muslim-majority country if they have at least 100 members. Therefore, many small congregations have to meet in private homes, making them vulnerable to police raids and heavy fines. This new church’s congregation is made up entirely of converts to Christianity making it similar to the churches addressed by Peter in that they were first generation Christians in a hostile religious environment. The blessing spreads well beyond one congregation, now six other congregations also use the building, whilst the smaller old building is used by a further six congregations.

In India the Coronavirus lock down has caused starvation level hunger in some poorer areas particularly for families reliant on daily-wage workers as there is no work and many have migrated back to their villages from the cities. Where food relief distribution is controlled by local Hindu extremist groups Christians are being denied food unless they deny faith in Jesus. In unity, sympathy and brotherly love, the global church in partnership with local Christians has been providing staple food, face masks and soap.

Suffering for righteousness sake is not exclusively something that occurs in distant places. It happens in a multitude of ways and settings including in families, work places and social settings. It takes the form of institutional prejudice and personal hostility. Sadly, it can also happen within the church. Peter expands on what a unified, loving Christian response is when suffering takes place. He draws again on previous themes of the example of Christ in the face of suffering, brotherly love and righteous living set apart for Christ.

We see conflict all around as people trade evil for evil and insult for insult, Peter here sets the opposite standard. ‘Do not repay evil for evil, or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.’ ^{v 3.9} Here Peter is confirming Paul’s teaching in Romans 12.17-21. In particular Peter is instructing us to be careful in our speech. Self control, Paul informs us is a fruit of the Spirit and an outcome of living and walking by the Spirit. ^{Galatians 5.22,25} James compares self control of speech to the bit in the mouth of a horse or to the rudder of a ship. ^{James 3.3-5} When we are under stress we are more liable to respond rashly and unwisely and therefore need to prayerfully prepare our minds. As Peter says earlier, ‘Prepare your minds for action, and being sober minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.’ ^{v 1.13}

The Christian should be a peace maker and a peace seeker. Peter connects such righteous living to the effectiveness of prayer as our actions and prayers align with the will of God. ‘Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. ^{vv 3.11b,12} Reading accounts of the suffering church it strikes one again and again how much their suffering has caused them to pray.

Peter says that under normal circumstances righteous life would not attract suffering. However where it does God will reward. He urges the church to have no fear and honour Christ as Lord. He returns to this theme in 5.7 and in doing so is confirming Jesus’ own teaching in Mathew 6.34, ‘Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.’ I have been repeatedly humbled alongside asylum seeking Christians, who have fled extreme persecution, as to their capacity to live trusting in Jesus during times of prolonged uncertainty.

In all circumstances the Christian’s confidence in Christ as Lord should be expressed in their preparedness to explain the reason for their faith. ^{v 3.15} However this as well should be done with self control and reflecting the character of Christ himself. ‘Do it with gentleness and respect.’ ^{v 3.16}

For the Christian the bottom line is, ‘It is better to suffer for doing good, if that is God’s will, than for doing evil.’ ^{v 3.17}

Refiner’s fire

^{1 Peter 3.1-7}

Eileen was brought up in a church attending family and continued with her faith into adulthood. She has good friends at church and loves going. When she met Bob he was happy about her going to church but wanted to do other things on a Sunday morning. Eileen hoped and prayed that Bob would change his mind after they married and want to come with her but it hasn’t happened.

Jane also grew up in a very active Christian family. It meant a lot to her as a child but while she was at university she stopped going to church and mixed with a different group of people. Jane never actually lost her faith but she had lots of questions. After she met and fell in love with Harry her life was filled with all sorts of other things. It was only after they had married and started a family that the feelings of wanting to revive her faith and teach the children came back to her. Harry was a bit grumpy about her going to church with the children every Sunday so that was hard.

Nieve had never been to church, she didn’t know much about Christianity and was happily married. Then a good friend told her that she had attended an Alpha course and it was great. Nieve was amazed that her friend should do that but could see she was really excited and very happy. So, when her friend asked Nieve if she would go to Alpha with her she rather nervously said yes. To her surprise Nieve herself found that she wanted to become a Christian but she was worried about how this would change her relationship with Kieran her husband.

All these examples are fictional but they represent common situations in many churches in Britain. Whilst biblical teaching is that as a Christian one should marry a Christian if you want to marry (2 Corinthians 6.14, 1 Corinthians 7.39) that doesn’t address the actual situation that exists for many. Peter when writing this letter recognized that this was the case in the churches in Asia Minor. Across the world cultural attitudes to marriage vary considerably as they have done throughout history. The reasons for marriage are also varied and the control over whom one marries, especially for women, has not always reflected equal rights and standing. This was clearly the case in the culture of the time.

Peter in this passage has not changed his underlying themes of living for the sake of the gospel and humble obedience to Christ through following his example for his glory. In whatever situation we find ourselves we are to be distinctively his people and that includes within marriage. Marriage itself is a reflection of Christ’s own relationship with the church. Authority and submission are seen in the relationships within the Trinity of God. ‘There is only one God, and he exists in three Persons. Each Person is equally God, yet the Son submits to the Father (1 Corinthians 11.3), and the Spirit submits to the Father and the Son (John 15.26).’ (1 Peter for you. Juan R. Sanchez) We can see then that in Christ, honour, equality and submission are not in conflict. The man is equally required to, ‘live in an understanding way, showing honour to the woman’ ^v7 and as Paul instructs the Ephesian church, ‘Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. ^{v Eph 5.25}

Peter is making clear to Christians that it is the quality of their relationships and love that is the most important thing. External beauty changes over time but God is causing an internal beauty that is even more attractive to grow in the Christian. ‘Let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. ^v4 It is in the quality of love and Christ like character that we seek to win our spouse for Christ or grow together in the Lord.  At the same time the church should not simply leave someone alone within a marriage but create a supportive, loving prayerful culture that understands the complexity of marriage.

Is there a married person in your church who you can be a listening friend to and pray for?

How is the church supporting married couples especially during this intensive period of lock down?

When God made you

1 Peter 2.13-24

No it doesn’t but it does say stuff about the principles of obeying governments.  There are times when people are tempted to look for specific guidance when it is not there. At these times there is a temptation to cast around for additional specific guidance perhaps through a prophecy or dream and there is a risk that these can take precedence over existing biblical guidance. 1 Peter 2.11 begins a section that sets out guiding principles for much of our everyday life. It is then our responsibility to consider how they apply to our circumstances and how they fit within the wider teaching of scripture. On the day of writing significant Conservative Party advocates and donors have resigned their party membership in the belief that the government has breached their individual freedom to choose where they refuse to wear a face mask.

Today’s passage addresses submission to Authority and individual freedom, whether it is in the context of obedience to governments or employment even in unfair circumstances. The starting point for Peter is acting for the Lord’s sake ^{vv 2.13,25} following the example of Christ. ^{v 2.21} Peter is building on his teaching that we are not our own but have been ‘ransomed’ ^{v 1.18} from our former life and are now a, ‘chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession’. ^{v 1.9} The freedom we have now received is to, ‘live as servants of God’. ^{v 2.16} In doing so we are to, ‘honour everyone’ ^{v 2.17} whether we like them or agree with them. The notion of universal human rights is for most of history an unknown concept, outside of the gospel. Even today although affirmed by most nation states it is very widely ignored by many of the same states. But the Christian is called to see people as Christ sees them and in every individual there is a likeness of God, ^{1 Corinthians 15.49} however deformed it may have become. The Christian is to love the brotherhood, fear God and honour the Emperor. ^v2.17

The purpose of respecting civil authorities is to promote law and order and to assist society to prosper. There are also gospel reasons and that is to silence those who would point to Christians as rebels or insurgents in society. Such allegations later became common currency in Roman society. Christians are called to emulate Jesus’ own character of one who does good even when treated badly, who speaks honestly, behaves humbly and does not retaliate with the same attitudes and behaviour that he has been subject to. ^{vv 2.21-13} Judgement and justice is ultimately to be trusted to the hands of God as Jesus himself did.

Does this mean that Christians should always be passive recipients of injustice on behalf of themselves or others? This is clearly not the case as we take into account the wider teaching of scripture. Peter himself draws a line when the will of God diverges from the will of a governing authority. Standing before the highest court in Israel he said, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard … We must obey God rather than men’. ^{vv Acts 4.19-20,5.29} This same challenge faces many modern Christians. During the reign of the Nazi Party in Germany they rewrote the statement of faith of the Lutheran Church to conform with racist ‘Arian’ ideals. Sadly, much of the church leadership agreed to it because they thought they were obeying the principles Peter wrote in verses 2.3-15. Others such as Bonhoeffer opposed the Church leadership and Nazi Party in that and other ways. Bonhoeffer lost his life for participating in the plan to kill Hitler. A similar situation is now being faced by the Christian church in China as the government is authorizing a ‘new translation’ of the bible to conform to the Chinese State communist ideology. (The same action is being taken over the Koran.)

Similarly, Peter and other apostles repeatedly instruct Christians to do good. This includes advocating for justice, fairness and the good of society especially the most vulnerable. In this way Christians have been and continue to be at the forefront of campaigns for racial justice, improved prison systems, provision for the poor, the care of refugees fleeing persecution and care for the elderly, along with many other good causes.

To revert to the first question, does the bible say we should wear face masks? Not specifically but where the Authority has brought in a regulation for the good of society, even if we are annoyed that it infringes our personal liberty, the biblical principle is to obey.

In what ways are we challenged to follow the example of Christ to do good even if we suffer for it?

Do we uphold in prayer and in other ways Christians who face the challenge of obeying God by disobeying their government?

Trust and obey