A Concord Minute: Our hearts in His hands

“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” - 1 Peter 4:7-11

Our reading from 1 Peter 4:7-11 (and even all of chapter 4) shows God’s design for our hearts being in Christ’s hands.

Though you may not see him, you love him because he loved you first. You are God’s own possession; a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation of Christ, a people for his own possession. You are forgiven of all your sin for the sake of Christ’s pierced hands. You are in His hands. As such, you are called to a new way of living. 1 Peter 4:1 - “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking.”

Jesus didn’t die (and then rise) for you so that you would continue choosing to live in sin. Those choices to continue knowingly sinning rub Jesus’ crown of thorns in the mud, spitting in the face of your Savior. Jesus did not die so that your idle hands could be engaged in sin. Jesus died (and rose) so that you would be reconciled to the Father, so that you could be in His hands.

So, how does one continue loving one another earnestly? How does the Christian - you - love one another eagerly, patiently, sacrificially? You love one another as Christ loved you first. Loving one another doesn’t mean tolerating sin, though. Toleration of sin is apathy, not love. Toleration of other’s sins is not helpful to them nor their relationship with God (or you, for that matter). We Christians are to extend our hands in love toward others, gently pulling them close to Christ through us.

Moreover, to love one another as Peter teaches is to love unconditionally, forgiving one another even when it hurts. To love one another means to be hospitable to one another without grumbling or muttering about each other behind the person’s back (1 Peter 4:9). To love one another requires using the gifts God has given to each of you for the benefit and service of others.

The Rev. Matthew Berry is pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Sikeston, Missouri. Based in Sikeston’s Historic North End, Concordia is a member congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), a theologically conservative, biblically sound, Christ-centered church.