Devotional Thoughts: Use whatever gift you have received to serve others

Continuing on ...

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

There is a branch of Biblical Studies called textual criticism. Since the Bible is so old, what we have are copies of the lost originals. From what I have heard, the copies are quite good for documents of such antiquity. Now, some, Bart Ehrman being most famous, feel it isn't good enough. Interestingly, his teacher, Bruce Metzger, who died a few years back, who has access to the same scholarship as Ehrman, believed the Bible copies to be reliable.

I'm just a "blogger in pajamas" so I am not qualified to assess those claims in a rigorous way. However, I will say, that even reading the Bible in English, I do wonder if some "editing" and "cutting and pasting" did happen?

This passage is an example. Read by itself, it looks like St. Peter is winding up the letter and closing it out. But I Peter actually goes on for a bit more! Thus, is this the end of the letter and the material following was edited in? Or was Peter ending the letter and then decided to write more?

Would it bother you, if you are a believer in Jesus, if some editing did take place?

I think there is a difference between editing and fabrication. Fabrication would be problematic. But of course, a skeptic will say, how do we know? They would ask, if there are edits, are they authentic to Peter (and other alleged Bible writes) or added much later?

Thus, to the extent textual criticism helps us get to the "originals," we are using the minds God gave us. Then, with the best reconstructed original we have in hand, we ask, is it authentic and authoritative for our lives? Now, that question is a matter of faith.

Now, back to the text with the trust that it is authentic and authoritative ...

For Jesus followers, the arrival of Jesus and his resurrection changed everything. It marked the beginning of the end. And with that reality in mind, Peter in rapid fire fashion summarizes how we are supposed to live. Theological belief must manifest itself in life ethic.

1. Be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray
2. Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins
3. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling
4. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others

Lord, thank you that the status quo has been overturned with your sending Jesus. Now, overturn the status quo of how I live my life. Give me clarity instead of a distracted mind. Help me to love rather than linger in selfishness. Strengthen me to choose a hospitable attitude over a distrustful one. Embolden me to use the gifts you have given me to serve others thus resisting the tendency to inaction. To you be the praise, glory and power for ever! Amen.