In this weekend’s epistle reading the Apostle Peter reminds us that we are living in the last days and that living in such times as these requires us to do three things:
1. Be Serious. This does not mean that you need to be a “gloomy Gus” but we must never lose sight that this world’s time is drawing to a close. Plan accordingly.
2. Be Watchful. This does not mean that we are watchful for the end. We are not “doom and gloom.” We are watchful for Christ. We watch for his promised coming at the end AND we look for him where he has promised to meet us and sustain us, in his Word and Sacraments.
3. Above all…have fervent love for one another. Peter places a real emphasis on the importance of the relationship between brothers and sisters in Christ. They are vitally important in these last days. Love! In other words, be merciful and forgiving toward one another. Show hospitality. Use the gifts that God has given you to minister to one another without grumbling about it. We talk a lot about stewardship. This is what the good stewardship of God’s manifold grace looks like.
Finally, understand that we do all of these things so that God may be glorified
because all glory and dominion belongs to him alone.
In Christ, Pastor Wiist
