1 Peter 4:1-6

1. YOLO is a popular phrase today—’You only live once.’ While this is true, its interpretation differs for the world and for believers. For the world, yolo means to live for immediate pleasure, prioritizing personal satisfaction over everything else. For the Christian, however, the understanding that we have a limited time on this earth drives us in a different direction. We should live for God’s will, not our own desires. What would our life look like if we took every opportunity to live for Christ instead of our own desires? How does prioritizing our relationship with the Lord change our daily focus?

   1. “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.” – Colossians 3:23-24

2. Living for the Lord causes conflict with people in the world. It seems nonsensical to the non-believer for us to live for the will of God, putting aside our own desires. Peter says they will be surprised and slander us. Our response to them must be in love, understanding that it’s the Spirit’s job to convict and transform. We must live a life devoted to the Lord, his ways and his wisdom. We are not the final judge of a man’s heart. God will hold all accountable, and the only thing we have to stand on is the mercy of a loving God and the resurrection power of Jesus. Throughout the last several weeks, we have looked at how we can respond to the people of the world. What should be the defining characteristic of Christians when faced with conflict and persecution? How should we respond when faced with ridicule or slander?

   1. “Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” – Leviticus 19:18

3. Verse 6 tells us that the gospel was preached so that those who are dead might live in the Spirit. The gospel is the means by which we hear the message of God’s ability to redeem and restore the dead to life. We are the messengers of this gospel to the world. We have been tasked with preaching the gospel to the people around us. We cannot assume that those we come in contact with will automatically know the truth of Jesus. Christians, not the Sunday gathering, are those tasked with sharing our faith. Yes, our services are a vital part of community, instruction and the rhythms of Christianity, but we are each individually called to go and make disciples. We cannot abdicate our calling to others in the hope the lost will come to Christ. If we don’t share, who will? How can I engage in meaningful gospel conversations with my neighbors? Who do I need to pray for and share with?

   1. “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher?” – Romans 10:13-14

For Further Study:
Read Acts 4. It may seem like we are ill-equipped to share the gospel, but in this story, we see two disciples who have been changed by the gospel stand in front of the Jewish leadership and speak the truth.

For Prayer:
Pray for your neighbors by name. Ask the Lord to give you an opportunity to share the gospel this week.