Skip to main content

Christian Charity (1 Pt. 4:7-9, 14-19)

'The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be serious and sober for prayers. Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let no one among you be made to suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as an intriguer. But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but glorify God because of the name. For it is time for the judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, how will it end for those who fail to obey the gospel of God? “And if the righteous one is barely saved, where will the godless and the sinner appear?” As a result, those who suffer in accord with God’s will hand their souls over to a faithful creator as they do good (1 Pt. 4:7-9,14-19).’

The early Christian community believed that the return of Christ and man’s salvation was imminent therefore believers must conduct themselves prayerfully in a sober and serious way.  They must be, “Vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man (Lk. 21:36).”  Love covers a multitude of sins because as Paul said, “It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Cor. 13:7),” so love is the perfection of our relationship with God and with each other.  They can conduct themselves as Christ instructed because of the Spirit of God; “The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord (Is. 11:2).”  If they suffer because they are Christians consider it a purification for the time of judgment which will be terrible for the godless and sinners.

Almighty God, Scripture tells us that when we come to serve you we should prepare ourselves for trials.  Grant, we pray, that you give us the strength to sustain through all our trials which lead to a purification of our souls if we hold fast to our faith.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

__________________________________

Reference:

Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.

Comments