Came To The Rescue

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:7-8

The blog title came from the song that was playing on Pandora when I started writing, and it is perfectly fitting. God came to the rescue this week. First, He brought me out of illness over the weekend and gave me a glorious Monday, which seemed unnatural in its peace and joy. Then Tuesday came. "Days Like These" is a reflection on those 24 hours of tumultuous work and embattled flesh through which the Lord proved faithful and left me not to despair. The next day, Thursday, heaven met earth "like an unforeseen kiss" and I was overwhelmed with the grace of God through the advice and time of friends. Today has been uneventful and probably a continued blessing because of it.

In 1st Peter this morning, the top passage stood out. The reason why we are to be separate from and finished with "the desire of the Gentiles" (v. 3) and to be sound in judgment and sober in spirit is for prayer. I guess I would have thought we should pray to be sound/sober, but not the opposite, which is what Peter said. And he's building up -- don't lust/carouse/get drunk, instead be like this (sober/sound) so you can pray. THEN, the pinnacle: "keep fervent in your love for one another" (v. 8). And actually, our love needs to be strong so it can help us forgive our brothers/sisters when we inevitably sin against each other. So, before you can fervently love like this, you need to pray? Interesting...

Thoughts from this week: 1) Enjoy each day of peace, but don't grow complacent, because storms will come. 2) In the storm, don't try to do it on your own--lean on God's strength--and remember His blessings with thankfulness. 3) Turn from sin; then pray, love & forgive. 4) The end is near; make use of every moment.