Introduction:
- How does time impact a government’s agenda? Consider the following political phrases…
- First 100 days
- Lame duck presidency
- 24/7 news cycle
Time is hugely important in the political world and timing perhaps even more so. Elections are won and lost on the timing of announcements, on the time allocated for campaigning, and governments are judged based on what they do with their time in office.
Likewise, time plays (or at least should play) a key role in determining the way that we conduct ourselves as God’s people. Recognising the times that we inhabit is not just a useful thing to know for our politics, it is an essential part of understanding our role as Christians…
Passage: 1 Peter 4:7-11
- What time is it? (Read Romans 13:11-12 to help)
- The end of all things is near (v7)
- Salvation is nearer now than when you first believed (Romans 13:11)
- The night is nearly over; the day is almost here (Romans 13:12)
- What does this mean? What clues have we already seen in 1 Peter?
- Time of inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-4)
- Time of salvation (1 Peter 1:5 & 9)
- Time of glory (1 Peter 2:12)
- Time of revelation (1 Peter 1:7 & 13)
- Time of judgement (1 Peter 4:5)
Time is short, the end is near and understanding what time it is of the upmost importance to Peter. Why? What is at stake according to these verses?
Application:
In politics our considerations are often governed by the immediate crisis, issue, or person in front of us. What difference would it make to know the times and therefore the true stakes?
Consider the following situations and fill out the table…
To go even further, reading the times isn’t about whether we can see which way the polls are blowing, what issues might crop up in the next five years, or how to go about changing the country (not that these are bad things to consider). For Peter his primary concern is to be aware that Christ could return at any time. This is the consideration above all that should impact and shape the way that we, as Christians, live.
Considering this truth, how does Peter encourage his fellow believers to live?
Spend some time working through each command and explanation and discuss why out of all the things Peter could say, he encourages them to live like this… (make sure to consider what we already know about them and their situation from the rest of the book, here are just a few ideas).
- Exiles, foreigners
- Persecuted, facing trials
- Called to shun evil and do good
- A new people created for the glory of God
This persecuted and dispersed people face hardship and trials from many sides. Peter’s encouragement here calls on them to recognise their hardship, to live in unity and love (something we also saw in 1 Peter 1 and 1 Peter 3). They are a new people chosen to declare the praises of Him who called them, called to praise Him with whatever they have wherever they are.
- How does this contrast with those around them? Look back at 1 Peter 4:1-6.
- Living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry v3
- Reckless and wild living v4
- How do their respective lifestyles reveal where their hope, joy, and glory are to be found?
The Christians to whom Peter is writing are to be utterly radically different from their peers. For one, they are to live for the glory of another rather than their own. They are to live not for their own selfish ends but using what they have for the good of others. They are not to live out of love for self but in deep loving community.
Application:
- Think about the world we live in today. How similar is it to that of Peter’s day? Think particularly about the following…
- What time is it?
- What circumstances do Christians find themselves in?
- What does the world around them think about them? How do they live?
- According to Peter, what is the key to faithful living in this day and age? What place/importance do you currently place on these things?
- Be alert and sober minded, that we might pray
- Love one another, for love covers over a multitude of sins
- Use whatever gift you have to serve others, that God may be praised.
- Practically speaking, what difference does this make to the way you view…
- Church
- CU
- Other Christians involved in politics
In the midst of a world that thinks differently, that lives differently, and that fundamentally misunderstands the times, we Christians need to be united in love, rooted in thick communities, committed to prayer and good works.
- How might this impact your political engagement?
Knowing the times and knowing that our purpose is to bring God glory in all things radically transforms our lives.
- How might you (as an individual and as a group) help one another to keep this perspective in view?
Pray:
- Thank God for the warning we have here. Thank Him that He gives us all we need to stand firm.
- Pray that we would view politics rightly in light of these truths, pray that God would give us an end-of-time perspective.
- Pray that we would as a group, be helping one another to be alert and sober minded that we might pray, love one another, and serve others for the glory of God.
- Pray for your churches that you would be communities that live out this passage.
- Pray for our universities, our cities, and our country, that they would wake up and recognise the time in which we are living.
