7 For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.
8 Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.
9 Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
vs. 7 - "The end of all things is at hand..." (KJV) - We think this seems to be a curious thing to say, since almost 2000 years have passed since it was written by Peter. However,
- Christ taught that we are to live each day prepared for Christ to return. For he can return at any second - are we ready? We should be; (See: Matt. 24:27, 36-39, 44; 25:13; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 12:40; Rev. 16:15)
- When we accept Christ, Satan loses his power over us; (See: 1 John3:8)
- Satan's end was sealed, e.g., a trial, found guilty, sentenced, but the final, complete punishment has not been meted out yet. (See: Rev. 20:12)
"Self-controlled and sober-minded..." - How do we approach God when we pray? We come timidly, fearfully - expecting to be chastised for bothering God Amightly? We see a little of this attitude in the Old Testament. See: Eccl. 5:2;, Esther, one of the 'queens' of king Ahasuerus, could not come to the king without permission. Compare that to our access to the throne of grace - Heb. 4:16 . We can come 'boldy' to the throne - and yet, I think we do not want to frivilous in our requests, for example: that the University of Oregon would win no football games, or the Beavers would go undefeated (although the latter may be more worthy than the first - it's a joke, people!). We are to make our requests to God. If we are talking to Him in the control of the Holy Sprit, our request will be made seriously with intent to have them fulfilled, and with the intent to stay pure. See: Mark 14:37,38 - "keep watch and praying so you do not fall into temptation..."; Luke 21:36, 22:46 - "keep on the alert at all times; Rom. 12:12 - "devoted to prayer"; Eph. 6:18 - "With all prayer and petition... be on the alert,"; Col. 4:2 - "Devote yourselves to prayer; 1 Thess. 5:6 - "let us be alert and sober"
Jesus said if we ask anything according to His will, it will be granted. So, ponder what God wants and expects of us: be controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit, and make your request to God. And we also have this amazing promise: "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." 1 John 5:14, 15.
vs. 8 - "keep your love for one another fervent" - This is more than simply get along with others, letting Christ love through faith... a forgetting, forgiving love. See: Rom. 12:9-15; 2 Pet. 1:7; Psa. 133:1; John 13:34, 35, 17:21; Acts 4:32; Eph. 4:2-3.
"love forgives a multitude of sins." - Love among believers is a commitment above and beyond knowing them as friend s and neighbors. See: James 5:19-20; Prov. 10:12; Psa. 32:1,2.
vs. 9 - "Show hospitality to one another" - Get along with one another, help each other. We were watching a streaming TV series, "Ann with an E" (based on the Anne of Green Gables books) and in one episode a home catches on fire. After it was extinguished, the people on the island banded together to rebuild the house. This kind of hospitality, neighbor helping and caring for neighbor is diminished in our frantic culture. This is what is meant in this verse - help each other, support each other - in love. The letter to the Galatians says "Bear one another's burdens..." See also: 1 Tim. 3:2; Heb. 13:2; .
"Love covers a multitude of sins" - See: Prov. 10:12, 17:9. Always remember: Love covered your sin. Christ died for you, not because you were worthy, but because He Loves You. The only thing you can brag about is Christ and His love.
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