DEVOTION – DAY 558

1 Peter 4:7-10 “Being Fruitful”

1 Peter 4:7-10 “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 one of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful servants of God’s grace in its various forms.” 

Since the Bible reveals that Jesus Christ will return one day, the period before His return is often regarded as the “end of all things” or the “end times.” Christians are to ensure that their attitudes, actions and relationships be “alert and be of sober minds so that they may pray.” The apostle Peter, helpfully sets out some ways Christians may show the right attitudes, actions and behaviors in vv8-10 above. They were to love each other deeply, offer hospitality willingly and generously, using their spiritual gifts to serve others, and to be faithful servants of the Lord.

What does this look like in practical terms? We know someone who found the strength to forgive her husband even though he had been unfaithful to her. She confessed that on her own strength, it was impossible for her to forgive her husband. She had to rely on the Lord’s strength to forgive her husband, and the Lord’s love to help her love her husband and overlook his sin of infidelity. It was a hard thing to do but she knew it in her heart that that was what love meant – it kept no record of wrongs. 

We know someone who is always willing to open her home to host missionaries or to host dinners for visiting speakers, pastors and their families. She was willing to provide a clean and comfortable place for visitors in her own home as her way of using her gift of hospitality to serve the church. We know another person who is willing to cook meals for fellow church members who had just undergone surgical procedures and are unable to care for themselves following their discharge from hospital. So, this person will show hospitality by offering to provide hot meals for the whole family for the next two weeks until the family is back on their feet. She would also be able to get them whatever groceries they needed. We also know someone who has the gift of administration so he would volunteer to help manage the audio-visual equipment in church. He would also be able to help in any maintenance repair work the church may need help with and so on. These are just some examples of ways people can be fruitful servants of the Lord as they await His imminent return to reign and rule.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, please help us all to be useful and faithful servants as we eagerly await your return. Help us to show love to others, to be hospitable to those in need, to be actively using our gift or gifts to serve you in whatever capacity that is needed. We humbly pray in the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

1. How can you show love to someone this week? It is easy to show love to people who are lovable. How can you show love to people who are not lovable? Will you do so?
2. How can you show hospitality to someone this week?
3. What spiritual gift have the Lord blessed you with? How are you using it to serve Him?
4. We are living in the end times. What does the Lord expect you to be doing in the end times looking at these verses above? Discuss.