What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
“Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves:” (1Peter 4:8a). Peter justly warns that “strangers and pilgrims” going through unjust treatment, persecution, and suffering can start to turn on each other. So he give this “Above all things” consideration. All the forces of hell, and most of forces of the leftist Democrats, have centered on keeping folks locked up, masked up, and terrified for a year. Some have laid out of church for months. They don't need “Christian” ire, they need compassion. Make no mistake believers gathering themselves together for edification is commanded, not suggested, but when a precious saint wants to remedy their lagging church attendance, their fear of what others will say and think can be an overwhelming hindrance. Peter puts forth three helps to touch suffering and troubled saints: fervent charity, hospitality, and ministry, among yourselves, one to another, and one to another as good stewards (4:8,9,10).
Shut-ins have beamed with the manifold grace of God when a fellow member ministered, visited, and brought charity into their shut-in life. In these days saints are recovering from diabolic lies that put them or their families in dire fear. They do not need rebuke, that is our Lord's arena not ours. They do not need ire, that is carnality. They need charity, hospitality, and ministered to. Peter goes on to exhort that we speak only the Word of God, minister only through God's ability, and do it only for God's glory through Jesus Christ (vr11). “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves:... Use hospitality one to another ... even so minister the same one to another,... that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ … Amen” (1Pet 4:8-11). Sure, put these four verses in an outline, but more so, put them into practice.
An Essay for week #16 - Apr 18, 2021
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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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