Pastor Chris’ Corona Quarantine Epistles to the Flock of AIC Ngong Road, in Dispersion and Isolation. 140th. Edition.
Dear Family,
Sandwiched between exhortations in the face of opposition is a section here that reminds us of the importance of fellowship and meaningful relationships with each other. Today’s portion (1 Peter 4:7-9) deals with attitude.
Prayer (v. 7). As the end draws nigh, we are encouraged to be serious and watchful in prayer. As we approach the end, challenges to our faith will no doubt escalate. To overcome such circumstances, we need God’s help and empowerment. Never assume that you can handle anything in your own strength and wisdom. Seek help from God, always.
Passion (v. 8). We are encouraged to love one another “fervently.” Fervency has to do with intensity and zeal. This means that our love for each other must be as that of people of the same blood, as indeed we are. While love can be without much feeling, we are encouraged here to be passionate in our love. This will “cover a multitude of sins.” We all have faults and we always sin against each other. While it is not good to take advantage of Christian love to sin against another, it is also true that we inadvertently and unintentionally sin against each other. When love governs our relationships, we look beyond one another’s faults and celebrate our kinship. This is what true love is about.
Patience (v. 9) . We are encouraged to be “hospitable to one another without grumbling.” The context is probably one of receiving and entertaining traveling fellow Christians and itinerant preachers. The problem is that some people do not know how to behave as guests and will easily cause offense. We should not be discouraged or complain, but rather be patient. In any case, our Lord is patient with us, and we are not fooling him about our faults. He knows even the ones we have hidden from those closest to us.
The nature of family is that we bear with one another. We are accepted, not because we are perfect, but because we belong.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.