4:1 - arm yourself also with the same attitude - What attitude do you arm yourself with? When you get up in the morning do you arm yourself with the attitude that Jesus that Jesus had to serve and to forgive and to entrust yourself to God or do you arm yourself with a different attitude? When you head to work what attitude are you armed with - protectiveness, a fight, self-advancement, apathy? When you head home what attitude do you arm yourself with - me first, here comes a fight, find someone to serve me? Listen, we arm ourselves for every single environment we enter. Every one. We need to begin to honestly assess what attitude we are arming ourselves with in each of them. Maybe part of the frustration in life is caused by us entering a situation ready for disappointment or ready for a fight or ready to be let down or so focused on our own advancement that we miss the opportunities God has for us. Can you image if Jesus had started His ministry complaining about the Cross up front? Jesus entrusted Himself to God and armed Himself to do well by the way He chose to think and feel and speak.
4:2 - People who have walked out of the world and with Jesus are those who no longer live for themselves, but for God's purposes. They no longer live for the newer, nicer, bigger or next thing. They figure out what is on God's agenda and that is what they put all of their energies, resources and effort into. I still struggle with this. I try to follow God while I think about the next car or the basement getting finished or some way to be a part of some great victory. For me to fully walk with God I have to be fully committed to His agenda not just first, but only.
4:4 - Reminder - People that don't walk with God (even the church ones) will mock, tease and even abuse you for not joining them in their sin. You are a testimony and a witness of what right living looks like so if they can't persuade you to join them they will point out how different you are. Be okay with that.
4:7 - Be alert and sober minded SO THAT you may pray.
4:8-11 - ABOVE ALL LOVE!!! Peter goes on to give a few practical pictures of love. Real love offers hospitality without grumbling. It serves others. It speaks God's way and God's words. It makes an honest effort. ABOVE ALL LOVE someone today. Better yet, ABOVE ALL LOVE God today by perfecting these things.
4:12 - Suffering should not seem strange to Christians.
4:15 - Don't create unnecessary suffering in your life by foolish living. There is enough suffering when we walk with Jesus. Let's not add to it by making poor choices or putting ourselves in bad situations. Some suffering is our own fault and we could prevent that kind of suffering through wise living.
4:17 - For it is time for judgment to begin with God's household
4:19 - When you suffer - 1) commit yourself to God AND 2) continue to do good.
5:1-4 - Elders - 1) shepherd God's flock, 2) be eager to serve, 3) be an example of what to do and not of what not to do and you will receive a crown.
5:5 - Younger (people other than elders) focus on submitting.
5:5-6 - Everyone = clothe yourself with humility.
5:7 - We can cast all of our anxieties on (or to) God because God genuinely cares FOR YOU.
5:8 - This is the third time that Peter says to be alert and sober minded in just 5 short chapters. Maybe he wants us to be alert and sober minded. HA! Why do you think he keeps repeating that one statement?
Peter reminds us that the devil is looking for an opportunity to hurt, destroy and devour us. We need to live with vigilance, but not fear. Vs 9 says if we will stand in faith God will personally deliver us.
Love, Michael
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