J-P spoke tonight from 1 Pet 4:7-11, speaking about how we use our hands in everyday living. Our hands can be used to point something out:
Sometimes we use a ‘thumbs up’ sign to indicate everything is good (or a ‘thumbs down’ sign if it’s not!)
In diving, this sign indicates everything’s OK:
We use our hands to say ‘stop!’ as well, and this is effectively what Peter wants us to do: to stop, pause and think.
Peter’s letter was written about 65 AD and was written at a time when Christians were being persecuted, considered outsiders and in a minority. He wrote to encourage them to keep the faith and as such, his letter still has much to say to us today when we too may feel discouraged and want to give up. He writes for us to stop and look at life, not allowing our emotions to control us, but to be of sober mind, not rushing ahead with knee-jerk reactions but letting God’s love direct our actions.
Jesus’s hands bore the scars from the nails, having died on the cross to bring us back to God. Peter tells us to love each other deeply, for love covers a multitude of sins. Love should be supportive, helpful and kind, often expressed through basic hospitality. We love best when we serve others – both in the church family and in the world, acting as salt and light in our communities. Love is best expressed through open arms and can come in many different forms as we encourage each other, celebrate each other’s gifts and play to each other’s strengths..
All of us are called to serve God in whatever capacity we can. Some of us are like undertakers, burying our gifts out of diffidence or fear. Others are like caretakers, being careful but unadventurous in our service for God. God wants us to be risk-takers, using all the talents He has given us so that we glorify God in everything that we do.
God call us to stop and think! – and then to love like Jesus loved us, forgive as freely as He forgave us and serve others gladly. Neil Diamond expresses it thus in his song:
“And when your brother is troubled
You got to reach out your one hand for him (hallelujah)
‘Cause that’s what it’s there for (halle hallelujah)
And when your heart is troubled
You gotta reach out your other hand (hallelujah)
Reach it out to the Man up there
‘Cause that’s what He’s there for (halle hallelujah).”
