Hero Ability
I Peter 4:7-11
Everyone loves a hero. We have all dreamed of being in the right place at just the right time with an ability no one else has. As a kid I was drawn to soldiers, policeman, and firefighters. My dad was a fireman and I was proud every time his station was "toned out" to respond to an emergency.
There is another level of hero. They are called Superheroes. These are the people with amazing powers to do incredible things. I have friends that are convinced that superheroes are among us just waiting for their individual skills to be called on.
Imagine a world where heroes (super or regular) did not use their power. There was an early '80s sitcom called The Greatest American Hero The main character was a regular guy who received a super suit from aliens. Unfortunately he lost the instruction manual and did not know how to properly use the suit's powers. I also think about the scene near the end of Saving Private Ryan where Corporal Upham stands crying, with rifle in hand, at the bottom of a staircase while one of his buddies is losing a life and death struggle with a Nazi soldier. Having a special ability and not using it is tragic.
Peter's letter is received by people who are in trouble. They are a group of Christians living in what is modern day Turkey and they don't fit it in. Their belief in Christ runs completely counter to the rest of the world around them and they are suffering because of it. Peter gives them a message of hope and in I Peter 4 (among other places) he gives them instruction on how to live. He reminds them that they have ability (Paul would call it super-ability in Romans 8:37) to make it and thrive.
First he tells them that they need to pray with the future in the present (v. 7). "The end is near", quite a way to begin a new paragraph but it grabs your attention! Peter teaches that we need to live with the end in mind as we pray today. If we clearly understand that God has a timer set on world events and it will eventually count down to zero we will pray our heads off!
The next instruction is to love til it hurts (v. 8). "Above all we are to love deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins". Love is the Holy Grail of Christ-followers. It is to mark us and drive us (John 13:34). Here it becomes even more pointed as a picture is painted on how to love: Deeply. This same word in Greek would be understood as the straining of a muscle group in an athletic activity. Essentially we are to love so much it strains our souls. Wow! I like people but this one slapped me upside the head...Do I love so much it hurts? That means I go out of my way make sure people are loved on. I need to speak truth, encourage, and rebuke all in the name of love (feel free to start humming the U2 tune now).
How often, in our churches, do visitors feel welcome? Before you answer, think...hard. I see regular attenders sitting by themselves on a regular basis! Frankly, I am astounded. Peter reminds these believers to welcome the unwelcome (v. 9). In a time where there weren't many public places to stay, people had to open their homes and hearts. Let's make sure we are doing everything we can to make every single person feel like they just came home from a long trip.
A major theme of the New Testament is service. Jesus showed us what it looks like when he wrapped a towel around his waste and washed his disciples feet (John 13). Peter, knowing what a tough time these Christians were going through, reminds them that every believer has been equipped (Romans 12; I Corinthians 12) to serve (4:10-11). This service means having the attitude of the lowest of servants or slaves. We must be willing to do what we can for the mission and other believers.
The motivation for all this is glory of God (v. 11b). The last two talks on serving revealed the motivations of God's mercy and Christ's example. At the end of the day what we do reflects our God. In the world of sales there is a motto that goes like this, "You are always marketing for someone". As we look at what can do and needs to be done and how we can fill those roles lets remember that our attitude and our actions point somewhere. Lets let them point toward God!
Everyone loves a hero. We have all dreamed of being in the right place at just the right time with an ability no one else has. As a kid I was drawn to soldiers, policeman, and firefighters. My dad was a fireman and I was proud every time his station was "toned out" to respond to an emergency.
There is another level of hero. They are called Superheroes. These are the people with amazing powers to do incredible things. I have friends that are convinced that superheroes are among us just waiting for their individual skills to be called on.
Imagine a world where heroes (super or regular) did not use their power. There was an early '80s sitcom called The Greatest American Hero The main character was a regular guy who received a super suit from aliens. Unfortunately he lost the instruction manual and did not know how to properly use the suit's powers. I also think about the scene near the end of Saving Private Ryan where Corporal Upham stands crying, with rifle in hand, at the bottom of a staircase while one of his buddies is losing a life and death struggle with a Nazi soldier. Having a special ability and not using it is tragic.
Peter's letter is received by people who are in trouble. They are a group of Christians living in what is modern day Turkey and they don't fit it in. Their belief in Christ runs completely counter to the rest of the world around them and they are suffering because of it. Peter gives them a message of hope and in I Peter 4 (among other places) he gives them instruction on how to live. He reminds them that they have ability (Paul would call it super-ability in Romans 8:37) to make it and thrive.
First he tells them that they need to pray with the future in the present (v. 7). "The end is near", quite a way to begin a new paragraph but it grabs your attention! Peter teaches that we need to live with the end in mind as we pray today. If we clearly understand that God has a timer set on world events and it will eventually count down to zero we will pray our heads off!
The next instruction is to love til it hurts (v. 8). "Above all we are to love deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins". Love is the Holy Grail of Christ-followers. It is to mark us and drive us (John 13:34). Here it becomes even more pointed as a picture is painted on how to love: Deeply. This same word in Greek would be understood as the straining of a muscle group in an athletic activity. Essentially we are to love so much it strains our souls. Wow! I like people but this one slapped me upside the head...Do I love so much it hurts? That means I go out of my way make sure people are loved on. I need to speak truth, encourage, and rebuke all in the name of love (feel free to start humming the U2 tune now).
How often, in our churches, do visitors feel welcome? Before you answer, think...hard. I see regular attenders sitting by themselves on a regular basis! Frankly, I am astounded. Peter reminds these believers to welcome the unwelcome (v. 9). In a time where there weren't many public places to stay, people had to open their homes and hearts. Let's make sure we are doing everything we can to make every single person feel like they just came home from a long trip.
A major theme of the New Testament is service. Jesus showed us what it looks like when he wrapped a towel around his waste and washed his disciples feet (John 13). Peter, knowing what a tough time these Christians were going through, reminds them that every believer has been equipped (Romans 12; I Corinthians 12) to serve (4:10-11). This service means having the attitude of the lowest of servants or slaves. We must be willing to do what we can for the mission and other believers.
The motivation for all this is glory of God (v. 11b). The last two talks on serving revealed the motivations of God's mercy and Christ's example. At the end of the day what we do reflects our God. In the world of sales there is a motto that goes like this, "You are always marketing for someone". As we look at what can do and needs to be done and how we can fill those roles lets remember that our attitude and our actions point somewhere. Lets let them point toward God!
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