The Tuesday after the Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on November 19, 2024 by under
Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-7 (NKJV)
4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers
Devotion
We should understand as believers that we were saved from sin, not for sin. But every once in a while we may need a reminder of this. St. Paul reminds us in his epistle to the Romans, and St. Peter reminds us in our reading for today.
Furthermore, if we still have friends who are not believers, they may not understand why we no longer have the same desires for our old sinfully self-indulgent ways, like the sinfulness associated with drunkenness, lewdness, and all that goes with it. Christ suffered and died for us; not so that we could give in to all of our sinful lusts and desires, but so that we could be free from them, and begin to live lives pleasing to God, doing good works according to His will.
From a human standpoint, it may hurt us to have those we once counted friends speak ill of us because we refuse to participate in the same sins with them. But how much better might our testimony as Christians be that we should avoid those things? We should still pray for and seek their repentance and conversion. Would this not represent a better kind of friendship?
Collect: O God, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by Thy Holy Spirit, that being ever mindful of the end of all things, and the day of Thy just judgment, we may be stirred up to holiness of living here, and dwell with Thee forever hereafter; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
