As Peter and the Christians of the first century were facing crazy times of the last days, he gave them specific instructions on how to live. “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever, amen” (1 Peter 4:7-11). We live in crazy times today, and whether you’re in a church of 50, 500, or 5,000, these commands are healthy and helpful. How will you survive the end of all things?
We pray. God hears all prayers from His people, but how much better are your prayers when you are self-controlled and sober-minded? How good are your prayers when you’re out-of-control and loopy, really? Be in prayer in these last days and for the sake of your prayers, be self-controlled and sober-minded. And above all love one another. How important is loving one another deeply? We are going to be short-tempered and stressed and sin against one another in these times, we’re going to pluck each others’ last nerves. Love one another, be gracious and merciful. And don’t neglect spending time with one another, either. Invite people over, go out for lunch or coffee. Get to know others so that you can love them. Don’t go these crazy times alone. God has been merciful and gracious to you. Don’t hold all that mercy and grace for yourself; serve one another. We all need an encouraging word in these times and you can speak an encouraging word, as if from God Himself. And you can serve, in His strength that He gives you.
We’re all angry, upset, stressed, and tired. “I just want it all to be over,” a friend of mine said. We will survive these end times by praying, loving, forgiving, inviting, speaking, and serving, and God is glorified through Jesus. To Him belongs glory and dominion, today and forever. He came and died and rose to overcome sin, to pay the price, to ransom His people in the name of God. He ascended on high and He will return to gather His people onto Himself. We live in hard and crazy times, almost the end, but there is good news. He is king over all. We wait with one another for Him to return, and we pray, love, forgive, invite, speak, and serve. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever, amen.