Following Jesus 66

Vision refers to an aspirational, ambitious, hopeful and motivated description of what you would like to achieve or accomplish in the mid-term or long-term future. It is intended to serve as a clear guide for choosing current and future courses of action. In short, your vision is what you want to achieve or accomplish. It is your goal(s).

 

I Peter 4:7-11 says, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:7-11 ESV)

 

We glorify God by understanding the times in which we live.  Vs. 7a.  “The end of all things is at hand.” 

 

We also glorify God by displaying godly disciplines in how we live. Vs. 7b-11a. “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies…”

 

Followers of Jesus glorify Him by serving others in prayer. Followers of Jesus glorify Him be serving one another in self-sacrificial love of the will. 

 

Followers of Jesus glorify Him by serving others in hospitality. “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”  Vs. 9. This means meeting people and helping them with their needs. Peter not only addresses the behavior of helping needy people as being a good thing, but also the attitude followers of Jesus are to have in meeting other people’s needs. We are to do so without grumbling or complaining. 

 

Finally, we glorify God by serving others with our spiritual gifts. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies…” vs. 10-11a. 

 

Each believer in Christ possesses at least one spiritual gift, and maybe more. Whatever those God given abilities for service be, we are to be good stewards of those gifts and the responsibility they carry. A steward is a manager who is in charge of his master’s possessions. He does not own the master’s possessions, but he manages them. 

 

For some, their stewardship involves teaching or preaching God’s Word. For others, service unto God may involve more behind the scenes responsibilities. Regardless of what we are called to do, we are also called to be faithful in doing it.