Devotion for Wednesday 11 MAY 2011 Anno Domini

Devotion for Wednesday 11 MAY 2011 Anno Domini
“7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 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 for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:7-11)
“But the end of all things is at hand.” The end of all things relative to the age of the earth as well as the age of a man or woman. When one views the Space-Time continuum from the perspective of Eternity, the age of the earth is so brief it is almost as a flash of lightning in comparison. The expected age of a human being is even less of a moment in that time cycle. So, it may be said with certainty that the end of all things is at hand. We need not be concerned about the end of time if we simply are prepared and expectant of its coming day by day. If we live our lives as if the Lord will come today or tomorrow, we will be ready when He does return. The speculation and elaborate prophesying that is taking place today will not avail. God has not told us the hour or day that His Son shall return, and He perhaps did not do so to prevent our presuming too much on that hour and day. The reader (or writer) of this devotion may even experience the end of THEIR time today. So live each day unto the Lord and all will be well with you.
How should we live our daily lives? “Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” Not simply physically sober, but spiritually so as well. Watch and pray. If we knew the EXACT day of Christ’s return, we might be less zealous in watching and praying.
What is the most precious asset we possess in this life? It is love – love expressed in our lives toward God, and also to His creatures. The strong beam of the Gross extends from the ground upward toward heaven. This may represent our strong and abiding love for God. We can claim no merit in this love we feel for our Creator for “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). The cross beam cannot support itself – it must be supported by the vertical shaft (our love for God). If we have that love for God, the cross beam shall represent that love which we have for others. But our love for us is supported by our love for God. “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging.” “Above all!" Charity covers a multitude of sins – as a matter of fact, loves covers ALL sin. “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” (Prov 10:12). Love is the strongest thing. We are assured in scripture that it is stronger than even death. It is the one virtue you will certainly carry with you before God. Cultivate love, not hate and bitterness. Love is a fountain of life – hate is a cesspool of poison to the soul.
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” What gifts from God do we minister to others? Only that gift which has been given us. Another word for gift is talent. We have talents from God. In biblical times, the talent represented a great value in money. The talents the Lord has given us are for more precious than a talent of gold or silver. They are talents of life and not measures of material value. And the talents which have been entrusted to us must be wisely invested if we are to be good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Our talents are not based on personal merit, but come by GRACE.
“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 for ever and ever. Amen.” When I was a little boy growing up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge in the 40’s and 50’s, there was a code among all the ‘old-timers’ of the country round about. If an argument arose over an issue of justice in daily life or business, the argument was cinched by the one who could produce a biblical counsel regarding the issue. All accepted the Bible as the ultimate source of justice and truth. Verses of the Bible were liberally quoted in daily society by all of those whom I ever met in those days – some barely literate enough to spell their names, yet learned in the Scriptures because they loved the Word. So they spoke as the “oracles of God.” We exercise our gifts to the extent that God has given them – no more, and no less. If God has given us the understanding to reveal a scriptural truth, do no less than reveal that truth to those who doubt. By the same token, do not presume to know more than the Lord has revealed to you. If you quote scripture, do so with understanding. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17). If you lack understanding, you know where it may be found. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5). God will never humiliate an inquirer for asking more wisdom, but is pleased always to grant it. It is always probable that we will know less than we should know of scripture, but never possible that we will know more of Scripture than we should know. So, take the Godly counsel and learn to your highest potential. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” (2 Tim 2:15-16). We have whole books written today by vain babblers, but there remains the crown and achievement of all books – the Holy Bible – as our only source of wisdom and comfort. Flee to it!