Epistle – 1 Peter 4-5

Bible Passage:  1 Peter 4-5

Thank God for friends in Christ! There is no other who is able to share our joys, disappointments, and who can iron out our jumbled thoughts with the same understanding and wisdom as we press on together toward our heavenly home.

Doctor is “In”

As I grow in the Lord, I gradually come to realise this. We spend a large portion of our time each day at school in our formative years, and then later on in life at work. Life at school is filled with great buddies whom we hang out with, fierce teachers whom we would rather avoid, nice teachers whom we respect, tonnes of homework, games at recess, chats in the hallways and jokes in the classrooms between lessons. Life at work is filled with collaborations with supportive colleagues, regular lunch chats, meetings, discussions, generous bosses, calculative bosses, tonnes of tasks due yesterday and banters in the pantry.

What transpires in the numerous conversations we share daily with our friends and colleagues? If we have an issue or are in some financial difficulties, to whom do we turn to? If we were worried about our children’s behavioural problems at home, who do we consult? If we experience moments of self-doubt and are confused as to whether we took the right course of action, whose assurance do we seek? If we were confused with what life presents us and our state of affairs, who do we confide in for some sound advice?

Seek What’s Right

We spend more time in school, at work and at play than we do in church. Naturally, we interact more with our yet-to-believe-in-Christ friends and colleagues than we do with our fellow brethren. As I read 1 Peter 4-5, I realise all the more the preciousness of our being children of God and the importance of keeping ourselves pure. While many around us are feeding their fancies, pushing the ‘limits’ of lusts and seeking to please themselves (1 Peter 4:2-3), we are taught to be sensitive to the slightest approach of sin (Hymn 262 I Want A Principle Within), ‘to catch our wandering wills’ and ‘quench the kindling fires of pride or wrong desires’ within ourselves.

This disparity of life goal, purpose, and a different set of values and standards sometimes cause more confusion and heartaches when we choose to place our confidence on non-brethren. If we are not able to take the lead and guide them, we may even be spuriously influenced.

Run a Different Race

We understand that we are a chosen people (1 Peter 2:9) and must strive towards holiness.

It is inevitable and I’m sure some of us have had experiences where we were given strange looks when we declined invitations to drinks and parties on Friday evenings so we could attend evening services at church. In the books of 1&2 Peter, we read of those who faced physical trials in the form of persecutions for holding on to their beliefs. Perhaps God has made these things His little trials for us, so that when we are able to discern and make a right choice, He is glorified (1 Peter 4:14).

Hence we do not run in the same race as the world.

A friend, non-brethren, once came to know that I was mulling over another friend’s unbiblical actions, and he said to me, “Just go with the flow. There is no need to be upset over this. There is no right and wrong, everyone has his/her reason for doing something, try to be more accepting and you’ll be happier!” While his intentions are kind, he does not share the same values and beliefs and hence is unable to understand my concern.

Many a times, so as not to stick out like a sore thumb, we do and say what everyone else is doing and saying. We go with the flow (1 Peter 4:4). But what if this torrent leads us to the edge of a tall cliff, with a straight vertical drop at the end?

Thank God for you – dear friend-in-Christ! Thank you for the times you understood my concerns. Thank you for assuring me that I was not strange for not following the trends. Thank you for giving me sound advice and for discerning when I needed them most.

Thank you, and thank God for keeping me pure and keeping me whole.