Saturday, March 24, 2007

We thank You, Father, for Your Word, and the detailed plan for living we
find in it. Give us the grace this day to live as though it was the last
day.

Scripture for today: 1 Peter 4:7,8

What do you see? Did Peter expect Jesus to return soon? Do you expect
Jesus to return soon?

The early Christians expected Jesus to return quickly. They lived with
one eye on the work before them, and one eye on the sky above them. It
was then, and is now, difficult to maintain this dual focus. Peter says
we must keep our minds clear, and remain constantly aware of everything
happening around us. He indicates that it will take concentrated prayer,
and extreme love for one another. Communion with God, and community with
people.
Someone once said, “pray as though everything depended on God, and work
as though everything depended on you.” I wonder of he was reading this
passage. It takes a deliberate, disciplined prayer life to stay in the
center of God’s will, and to know that we are ready to meet Him in the
air at any time. But God has clearly instructed us to express His love
while we wait. Agape love is the selfless desire for the good of the one
loved that we learn from God Himself. And Peter says we are to love each
other fervently with that quality of love.
He goes on to say that love covers a multitude of sins. That can mean
several things. a) When we love someone we are prone to overlook their
shortcomings. b) Certainly, the love of Jesus covered all sin for all
time. c) We are forgiven because of our love. In Luke 7 a sinful woman
ministered to Jesus out of great love, and was forgiven much. In Matthew
25 Jesus says when we express agape love to even the least of people, we
do it to Him.
What a wonderful blessing! We get to minister to Jesus in love while we
excitedly anticipate His soon return. Hallelujah!

I pray you will find someone today to love with the agape love of Jesus.

Chuck McKinney, Valley Christian Church; Concord