JANUARY 27, 1 Peter 4:1-5

Although God is our loving Heavenly Father, he will also be the Judge of all. He is not some heavenly “vending machine” which gives us whatever we want. He is also not some fairy-tale god that is all kindness and smiles. As God is holy, He demands that we be holy. The teachings in the Bible are very clear on what His requirements are and so one day, all of us will have to stand before Him and account for what we have done.

That is why Peter reminds us in verses 4 and 5 that we should be Christ-like, and stop living the way non-believers do. I want to ask you – how different are you from your non-Christian classmates? Are you able to show by your life that you are a child of God? Can others see Jesus in you? Think about it. How different are you from the past? Are you now more patient? Or less selfish? Or more willing to share? Peter told us the early believers used to indulge in selfish pleasures such as drinking, partying and praying to idols, but because of their faith, they had stopped such activities.

Can others say the same of you, that they have noticed you had stopped some sinful activity because you have Jesus inside? These sinful activities need not be the type mentioned in today’s passage; they could be spiritual laziness on your part, a lack of prayer, irresponsibility as a student or not honouring your parents.

Thought: Be prepared to stand before the Heavenly Judge.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me flee from all sinful habits so that others can see Jesus in me, and glorify Thee. And in doing so, I will be better prepared to stand before Thee when I am judged. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.