What should Christians do while we wait for the end? Part three (1 Peter 4:9)

In the last two devotions I encouraged us to live in light of Jesus' return. The first devotional said we should pray so that we may not fall into sin and the second devotional was about loving others by forgiving them.

This week I would like us to welcome Christians without protest as seen in 1 Peter 4: 9.

It says: 

9 "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling."

In Peter’s time, Christians used to gather at each other's homes in order to have church. And everyone was expected to be warm and welcoming to each other. However, it wasn’t always the case. Hence Peter says, “show hospitality to one another (Christians) without grumbling.” Which means that Christians were not welcoming other Christians, instead they were protesting their attendance.

Why? Perhaps some of those Christians had fallen into sin. They had slipped up and gave into the temptation and pressure from the world, their friends, family, work colleagues, and the devil, and sinned as a result.

Picture the scene, some Christians murmuring to themselves, looking at their fellow Christian brother or sister in Christ: “Who does he think he/she is? Coming here after what they have done?”. 

But Peter says, welcome them and do not complain about them.

Why? This is an expression of agape love. Once a fellow Christian brother and sister has repented, confessed their sins before God and everyone else and once their sins are brought to light and forgiven, don’t talk about it again. 

You can’t say I love you, I agape you, therefore I forgive all your wrongs and then complain about all of them.

It doesn’t fit. It doesn’t make sense. But what makes sense is to never bring it up. 

Welcome repentant Christians in a way that says you have never sinned against me or God.

One of my mentors was chatting to a lady who wronged him and his staff team. But the way he was speaking to her as if he developed amnesia about the way she treated them. 

“Hello? How are you? Nice to see you again. How's life? How's work?”.

He had a big smile on his face, he shook her hand, his tone was warm and winsome, his body language was friendly.

She was surprised at how warm and welcoming he was to her. 

So she says, “I want to say I’m sorry again for what I said and did”. I’ll never forget what he said. He said, “No need to apologize, it's all in the past”. 

It's all in the past. Finished, done and dusted, that's the end of it. No need to talk about it again.

This is how we need to respond to repentant Christians: welcome them without any protest. The heavens are going to open, and Jesus our Lord will come in all his glory and splendour, how will he find you treating a repentant brother and sister? 

Inhospitable and complaining about what they did, or welcoming them as if they have never sinned?