A Full Life
How do we live our fullest life possible?
The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. - 1 Peter 4:7-10
Peter's advice for us is to love one another, just as Jesus commanded. But he wants us to know that no matter what we have done in the past, if we turn our attention to the right actions, for the right reasons, we can wipe out those sins and return to God.
God's grace is unearned and freely given. We know that. So we think we don't have to do anything to stay in His grace, and that is true, but Peter wants us to think of grace differently.
We are stewards of grace, not just recipients of it.
That means we have a responsibility to nurture and cultivate it, like a valuable crop. We are to share and spread the grace around, using the unique gifts we have been given to do so.
I believe this is the path to living a full life, one in which we are suppliers of grace as well as consumers of it.
I give what I have been given. So if I have been given the gift of laughter, I will fill the hearts of all I meet with joy, and if I have been given the gift of hospitality, I will open my heart and home to those who need it.
These are the ways I become a good steward of God's grace.
And in being a good steward, I will find the peace that passes all understanding, making God's kingdom real for me, here in this life.
And I will be filled.
More to come...