1 Peter 4

1-11 Good Stewards of God’s Grace

• If you want to put sin behind you, be willing to suffer as Christ suffered.
• This is when you know you put God’s will above human desires.
• You used to give in to your fleshly desires – carousing and idolatry – and your worldly friends do not understand why you’re not joining them anymore, so they blaspheme. The Greek word translated as blaspheme here is blasphēmeō, defined as “to speak reproachfully, rail at, revile, calumniate, blaspheme.” The NASV translates it “malign you,” the KJV as “speaking evil of you.”
• But they will answer to God, who judges the living and the dead, which is the reason he has always communicated his will to mankind, has urged us to live by the spirit rather than in the flesh.
• The end is near. Whether this speaks of the impending destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70), or is a reminder of the brevity of life, I don’t know. But when Jesus was alive, he also told his disciples to watch, to be on the alert (Matthew 24:42). The next verses explain what this entails.
• Therefore:
  • Be serious and be disciplined “for the sake of your prayers.” There’s that phrase again, similar to when Peter advised husbands to honor their wives (3:7). Our lifestyle affects our prayers, either by encouraging or discouraging prayer, or by affecting the way God answers them – maybe both.
  • Love one another constantly
  • Be hospitable without complaining
  • Serve one another with the gifts you have received
  • Speak the words of God
  • Serve with the strength God has given you
  • Glorify God in your service

12-19 Suffering as a Christian

• Don’t be surprised that you are experiencing a fiery ordeal, but rejoice that you’re sharing in Christ’s suffering.
• Consider it a blessing when you suffer for being a Christian; it’s better than if you suffer for doing wrong.
• Suffering now as a Christian is much better than suffering later because you did not believe.
• Entrust yourselves to a faithful Creator.