53. Light

Meditations in 1 Peter : 53 : Light to the World

1 Pet 4:8-10 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

In today’s jaded world, people look for what is real and what is good but, often, with no hope of finding it. Now that is sad because Jesus said to the Christian community, “You are the salt of the earth ….You are the light of the world …. let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Mt 5:13-16) i.e. display God’s goodness in such a way that the world sees and knows that you are His and it is His power, His strength, His grace shining through you.

Peter started off this chapter with, “Christ … arm yourselves also with the same attitude…live the rest of his earthly life …. for the will of God.” (v.1,2) He digressed to speak about our past lives and how the world lives, but now he is speaking out the will of God for our lives, how the Lord wants us to live as His children, being salt and displaying His light. He has just said “be clear minded and self controlled” and we noted this was all about how we think and then how we act. So now he lists various ways that we can express our Christian lives – love, offer hospitality and serve. Let’s examine each of these three things he places before us.

He starts out, “Above all.” i.e. THE most important thing is that we love one another deeply. Because some of these words are so familiar, it is perhaps wise to seek to put content to them. Love might be defined as warm affection, attachment, liking, benevolence or strong benign feelings for others or, as the Bible portrays it, selfless, sacrificial, unrestricted good will towards all others. Now Peter says we are to make this the number one expression of our Christian lives and to do it ‘deeply’!

But he also gives us a reason or motivating force to encourage us to live like this: “because love covers a multitude of sins.” That is a phrase that has found its way into common usage because it is so apt. This recognises that each one of us is imperfect and the truth is that we will get it wrong. Now as far as God is concerned that is covered: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 Jn 2:1) That is about how Jesus responds when we fail and then come back to him in repentance. Today’s verse covers how we are to cope with, or deal with, one another when one or other of us blows it.  Love!  Love still hangs on in there for that other person.  Our love means we forgive them, we seek to understand them, accept them and feel for them and not condemn them for ‘love covers a multitude of sins’!

But then he gives another way that we can build fellowship, build the church and reveal the love of God: “Offer hospitality to one another.” Hospitality is about opening our home to care for and bless others. Hospitality builds relationships, builds friendships and provides opportunity for coming closer and for sharing and caring.  But, says Peter, do it without grumbling.  Why might we grumble over giving hospitality?  We may grumble because we see it as a duty and not as an expression of our grace.  The apostle Paul taught, “Share with God’s people who are in need.  Practice hospitality.” (Rom 12:13)  Hospitality, in his mind at least, was closely linked with helping and blessing those who were not as well off as you.

Then, as he lets his mind drift on past this, Peter adds, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.” Now whether we think of ‘gift’ as a spiritual gift or simply some ability, the message is the same: use it to bless others. Come with the attitude of a servant whose desire is to bless others. If we do this we will be faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. i.e. we will be using the grace that God provides for us – in whatever form it comes – to bless others, build the church, and reach out with the love of God.

These are all very positive, outward looking instructions. They take our minds off ourselves and focus on bringing blessing to other people. When Peter had said, “The end of all things is near,” (v.7) we might think that this is a time for focusing on our own lives and our own well-being, but the apostle doesn’t allow that. No, in whatever days we have left, be outward looking, seek to love others, offer hospitality, use what you have to serve and bless others, take whatever grace gives you – and pass it on! There is no space here for self indulgence. No, this is all about using the time and using the resources God gives you to bless others and reveal the Father. May it be like that!