November 12-14, 2010
1 Peter 4
Pastor Jeff Allen
Have you ever noticed that you can see the downturn of our culture within the magazines that have been produced? Maybe you know the magazine called LIFE. Then US and SELF magazines were created. Those are just a few examples of a progression from the perspective of a community to the perspective of an individual. In prophetic words spoken about the final days, you will read about the same progression from a selfless culture of bygone years to the selfish culture of today.
1 Peter 4 speaks of the final days. Peter writes, “The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore…”
- Be earnest and disciplined in prayer
- Show deep love for each other
- Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or place to stay
- Use your gifts so God’s generosity can flow through you
- Keep doing what’s right
To put it in today’s words, don’t let distractions get between you and God, put others first and in the midst of a world where many people do whatever they want, continue to do what’s right. It sounds simple enough, but you may find it to be more difficult than you would think. Fun distractions disguised as entertainment can take up too much of our lives. We’re constantly bombarded with a philosophy that states our personal well-being is more important than others. Finally, the world would state that it doesn’t matter how you reach the goal as long as you reach it.
In these difficult days, we must be on guard against what seems to be “normal.” Normal is rarely what it seems in a supernatural world. In the words of my wife and author Patsy Clairmont, “Normal is just a setting on a dryer.”
Lord, help us not give in to the “normal” way of life.
When asked about a historical figure (not from the Bible) that he would most like to meet, Grace Covenant’s Children’s Pastor for “The Studio” identified C.S. Lewis “because he had a unique perspective of the kingdom of God and had a great ability to communicate that perspective in a way that has captivated and brought growth in people for generations beyond his death.”
