We call those that are learned in a particular area such as medicine, engineering and many other occupations as having a discipline. They practice their disciplines by closely following rules and applying methods and principles so as to achieve successful outcomes in everything they do and they are watchful for anything that might go wrong.
There are many similar aspects to the practice of watchful discipline for Christians too: We need to know and understand the word of God, His Holy Scriptures, so that we can apply the rules, methods and principles we are given. The main practice in our discipline is a deep heart-felt love for God and in treating everyone as we would have it for ourselves.
And as in any other discipline, we need to practice these things in order to be proficient in them. We also need to understand and be watchful of the pitfalls in certain aspects of being Christians such as our tendency for error and misunderstanding of God’s word and we always have the tug of our old fallen natures to deal with, you know, the one the Apostle Paul talks about in Romans chapter 7.
The Apostle Peter reminds us that in our discipline we are to practice godliness between ourselves, offering up charity, compassion, forgiveness, hospitality and in humbleness, care for those in the house of God while we wait patiently for the Lord’s coming. The care we give is for both physical and spiritual.
We have to watch ourselves too so that there is no opportunity for Satan to attack us through our eyes, flesh or in pride. Satan doesn’t have to do this himself as he has his own army of human disciples that think like him and follow in his ways.
We also have to watch out for false prophets among us who appear to speak the words of God but actually seek to take our faith and hope from us by subtlety. Scripture tells us to test what we read and hear from others against the word of God to see if it is true or not.
Our scripture readings this week:
1 Peter 4:7-11 “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
What is Peter’s message to us?
Peter first asks us to first apply watchful prayer. We are to be aware of our own weaknesses and pray for strength and for the same in others. We are to watch out for threats that could be coming (such as Jesus telling his three disciples to watch while he stepped away to pray just before he was arrested). We are to watch out for others in the body of Christ too.
Peter next uses the words “fervent charity” here to describe how we should conduct ourselves in a disciplined manner. It produces a passionate, intense and sincere desire to meet that need of another while all the time keeping a deep, focused, passion-filled heart on what God wants us to do. It means to align ourselves with God’s will and not our own.
When we hear of a need that arises, we should have it in our hearts to act without thinking to offer up whatever resources we can to help. Sometimes, it’s giving of our time and in others instances, money or shelter but basically to give whatever is needed to help.
Peter also uses the word “hospitality” which is another way of saying we need to serve others by attending to their needs (and not just to other Christians) and it is like charity. Think about the word “hospital” where the needs of the sick are attended to make them well. We practice hospitality when we welcome someone into our home and provide refreshments and a meal and lodging for rest.
Peter goes on to state that God has given us all gifts to serve one another in the church and we should use them. It could mean the willingness to use some skill for the greater good of us all and especially for those unable to do for themselves. There is a discipline in doing these things as we are to be ever watchful for the opportunity to fulfill some need in the church and community.
Peter says our speech too ought not be idle but should come forth from the scripture of God in teaching and in preaching if we have those gifts so that in everything we do, God is to be glorified through His words and in imitation of Jesus Christ in our lives.
1 Peter 5:5-9 “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
What is Peter’s message here to us?
Peter says we are to clothe ourselves in humility submit ourselves to those whom we acknowledge as our elders and to be subject to one another by listening and giving way so as to have peace and not to always have it right as we would have it.
Peter cautions us to be sober and vigilant in what we do, always keeping in mind that Satan, as a roaring lion, roams about seeking those whom he might devour. If we lose that discipline of being steadfast in the faith and serving one another, it gives Satan an opportunity to get inside our heads to distract us and if it were possible, lead us away from God and even to start doubting our own salvation and the very words of God.
That is the way of Satan, the father of lies. He hates God and will do everything possible to separate us from Him. Satan tries to get us follow him like most of the world does today. Satan knows we are weak in the flesh and he uses those weaknesses to attack us by enticing us to sin through the eyes, the flesh or in pride. Satan knows scripture better than us and can easily twist God’s words to change their actual meaning and to create doubt in them. We see that happening all the time when the logic of a fallen world creeps into the minds of Christians.
I’ve heard some say that something in the bible couldn’t have possibly happened as though God is not all powerful but rather somehow limited and incapable as though we know better.
We should recall that it is written in Isaiah 55 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.“
Satan can only do these things to us if we don’t have God’s words in our hearts and take our focus off what God wants us to do. So, we must practice watchful discipline in how we behave to avoid this and above all, resist the devil with God’s word, always testing what we hear against them.
Satan has people in churches who want to pervert the meaning of God’s Word because they want it to conform to whatever the modern culture in a lost world wants to believe. They might argue that there is no such thing as sin (right or wrong) so that anything anyone wants to do must be acceptable to you because that is their belief and truth.
We can resist them as our Lord commanded us: We are to treat everyone as we would have it for ourselves, not as they would have it for themselves. Out of love for them, we share and live the way, the truth and the life of Jesus Christ.
Someone once said that our call is to “Preach at all times and, when necessary, use words.”
This means that we “preach” salvation through Jesus Christ in how we act and behave toward each other and to those in the world and if they ask, we’ll tell them that we are followers of Jesus Christ and we’ll share the Good News of His salvation for everyone who believes in Him as the reason for our faith and hope in a crucified Jesus Christ! Let us stay watchful in prayer and disciplined to study and meditate on the truth of God’s Word and gently and lovingly encourage those around us to do the same and then to practice those things God expects of his: Love, Charity and Hospitality.