If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. v11

I know I am Christ's ambassador and that I exist to glorify God and to bring others to Him...yet often I don't. Christ please forgive me for my disobedience!  I know I should be a living sacrifice.

See also Isaiah 60, 1 Peter 2, 1 Corinthians 10, John 15:16, and Romans 12:1 (and elsewhere).  2 Corinthians 5:20 says:

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.

My Prayer: Lord, You are great...pure, holy, blameless, all knowing and all powerful.  Blessed with all fruits of the Spirit to an abundance that I cannot fathom.  And You poured out Your life for me...knowing everything about me, including my sin.  How great You are!  Thank You for the many, many ways that You have blessed and continue to bless me...there are too many too mention!  I am not worth such love and blessing Jesus.  I fail to fully live up to the life You intend for me as Your ambassador.  Please forgive me!  Help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me truly be Your ambassador.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

1 Peter 4

 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. v10

Humility and service are core to what Jesus asks of us...it demonstrates our love of Jesus and others.

Humility and service are discussed throughout scripture, including:
- Matthew 20
- Ephesians 6
- Mark 9
- 1 Corinthians 9

By implication, we must also "die to self" or "deny oneself" as posted here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God full of love for me as demonstrated by blessing upon blessing and the pouring out of mercy, compassion, patience, etc. for me. I am not deserving of such blessings and love.  I very often fail to lead in my household as You intend for me.  Forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome some such sin and turn from it towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me be humble and serve others - denying myself and my selfish desires.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer. Help her have a productive appointment this morning.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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.

1 Peter 4

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. v7-8

We are to be prepared, living with the end in mind, and also praying earnestly for each other - but once again as it says in Matthew 22 the most important commands include loving God and loving others as oneself (which is later restated by Jesus in John 13 to "...as I have loved you").

My Prayer: Lord, I know You love me and this in spite of Your knowledge of everything about me, including my sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I am lazy and disobedient. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

1 Peter 3

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. v7

I often do not treat Lisa with respect, being critical of her in front of Zach and Dustin and this is NOT respectful!  Forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from such towards You.  I know what Peter speaks here is emphasized elsewhere in scripture:
- Ephesians 5
- Malachi 2
- Hosea 3
- Proverbs 5
- Colossians 3

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love for me, even though You know everything about me, including my sin and shortcomings.  You suffered harshly and died for me, for no reason other than You sought to forgive my sins and to give me eternal life in heaven with You.  What an awesome gift You are!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worthy of such a gift.  I often do not work as though I am working for the Lord - lazy!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me love and treat Lisa with respect.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.

1 Peter 2

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. v13-14

I often grumble about my work situation and God does not want us to grumble. How can glorify God when we are complaining.  Peter helps explain this:

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

 

Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. v15-21

Paul also wants us to obey our earthly masters - see here in Ephesians 6. 

Another nugget of Truth from this morning is how we are "not [to] use your freedom as a cover-up for evil", meaning that we have free will - but is this no excuse for sin!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, how great You are!  You came to earth to live among us and were tempted in every way but lived a pure, holy and blameless life.  You then suffered and died for us so that we could be forgiven for our sins and have eternal life with You in heaven - a love that knows no bounds - awesome!  Thank Your Jesus!  I am not worth such a love as I often neglect to bring You the first fruits of my time daily - please forgive me and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Help me obey authority on earth, not grumble, glorify You, and not use freedom as a cover up for sin.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Please provide Linda with relief for her home situation - protect her and her son.  Please also provide ML with a new job that is more than she desires for herself - provide peace and encouragement to both Linda and ML.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Peter 2

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. v12

We exist to glorify God:
- see v9
- John 15:16
- Romans 12:1

and to bring others to Him.  This latter part of the verse is often overlooked.  Jesus help me focus on this.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of compassion, mercy, gentleness, patience...love for me...I not worth such blessings...I am weak and I fail to boldly proclaim Your glory...with my life and words.  Thank You that You bless me so but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me live such a life that others are drawn to me and I can share the gospel with them.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

1 Peter 2

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. v1-3

I pray daily that I can grow in my faith as this what Jesus desires for me.  He says in not just here in 1 Peter but also in Hebrews:

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity Hebrews 6:1

The other point of Peter's message is to "rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind."  I must be careful of the influences in my life as they may contain such things...and in particular I think of the TV and movies that are available...

My Prayer: Lord, You are good...pure, holy, and blameless.  And You came for me and chose me...knowing everything about me, including my sin...Thank You Jesus for Your love and mercy...and Your patience....and so much more beyond what I can describe.  I love You Jesus.  Help me overcome slander and gossip in my life, and hypocrisy, deceit, malice, etc.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me mature and grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal her of this cancer and make these side effects go away!  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.