March 13, 2023

1 Peter 4:1-6 (HCSB)
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same resolve-because the One who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin - 2 in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires, but for God's will. 3 For there has already been enough time spent in doing the will of the pagans: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry. 4 In regard to this, they are surprised that you don't plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation-and they slander you. 5 They will give an account to the One who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was also preached to [those who are now] dead, so that, although they might be judged by men in the fleshly realm, they might live by God in the spiritual realm.

Rachel Raley
The world views being obedient to Christ as living uptight and “too seriously”. The problem isn’t that we take ourselves too seriously, but that we don’t take the Lord of the universe serious enough. Here’s Peter’s point: Jesus isn’t taking our good life away from us but giving us the life we really long for. There have been seasons in my life where I thought I knew what I longed for but, thankfully, God knew better. He knows us better than we know ourselves and we need His example to know how to truly live. I am thankful that in this “You only live once, so let’s party!” culture, that living on this earth isn’t as good as it gets. Our church family is looking ahead to that great day when Jesus returns and restores this broken world with his marvelous grace.