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 4:7-9
The lack of attention to spiritual disciplines on a positive end and temptation on the negative gets in the way of our praying. That is why Peter calls us to be alert and sober, or serious minded. Now this is not a joyless mind because he next tells us to love deeply. It is deep love that drives us to deep prayer. A life that is filled with prayer is the same as a life filled with love. Love that is thoughtful, meditative, and considerate of the problems of others is conscience of the fact that it is powerless to heal and bring comfort to those who need love. Love that grows in wisdom understands that only a divine source or God himself interceded with and through, causes us to love and then love causes us to pray, and prayer causes us to love. However this work is not done on our knees only but in the mingled with the every day. Peter brings love to the kitchen table when he says, “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
To live a life of love and prayer is to make yourself vulnerable to the temptation of complaint and grumbling, but “love covers a multitude of sins” even those we commit in the practice of loving others. Oh but if we would get the full meaning of our ability to cover sin with prayer. We would change the course of lives and nations. Is it possible that Steven’s last words and last prayer “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” was the catalyst for the conversion of a spiritual blind Paul? Was it not the love and prayer of the young man Daniel that went to King Nebuchadnezzar when he decreed that all the wise men in the kingdom would be executed if his dream were not interpreted? This dream contained the history of the human race and was unlocked because a young man was concerned with the life of others and prayed. 2 Timothy 2:2 makes the direct connection between the King’s table and our kitchen table when he commands. “Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.” Our lives are connected to those who are in authority. If we pray for them our loved ones we reap the benefit. It is a double blessing of love. Those who are in authority are only human and subject to human failures. Their failure is our failure because they represent us 1 Peter 2:17 “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”
We need to understand the “God makes men what they are” (Brave heart) and he has made you who you are, Peter understanding this facts and tells us that “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 4:10 He elevates these gifts to divine representation, or as The Apostle Paul more clearly defines as ambassadors of Christ.
“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. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11
God is calling us to be done with earthly words and work. He is calling us to walk in the Spirit in a manner that is defined in Romans chapter 8. Proverbs 16:9 tells us “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” If we believe that the Lord is establishing our steps shouldn’t we believe that he is planning them for divine purpose? Do we dare to add faith to all the moments of our life and let love and joy and prayer fill them in such a way the divine character of Jesus Christ fills each day? I am growing desperate to live this way. The scriptures tell me that I can. So let it be written in my heart and lived out in my walk as it is written to the words of the scriptures.
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