Thurs., 4/16/20 Devotion (1 Pet. 4:3a, 7)

Today's encouragement comes from a collation of 1 Peter 4:3a & 7, which renders this reading:

"For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gen-tiles— . . . But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers."

These two texts (above) "bookend" the Christian's life-perspective. Enough of our time has already been wasted sinning. Life on earth is too short to spend it unwisely. On the other end, "The end of all things is at hand”—not in the sense that the world is coming to an end—but in the sense that Jesus has been exalted to the Father's right hand; and we are to live now in the full real-ity of the Person of Jesus.

Are we frittering our lives away today, like the rest of the frightened and idol-atrous world; or are we investing them wisely, going on the offensive for the kingdom (church) of God?

[Puritan quote of the day: "It is better to meet God with tears in your eyes than weapons in your hand. You may overcome Him sooner by repentance than by resistance.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]