July 26 | 1 Peter 4: 1-2, 8-11

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DAILY READING

1 Peter 4

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REFLECTION

Living Like We Mean It

By Michael Guastella

I have a brother, and as anyone with a sibling knows, siblings fight.  Inevitably, mom or dad comes in to break it up.  After a minute or so, they force the children to apologize to each other, usually then met with a half-hearted “sorry” to each other.  This is usually insufficient to mom or dad, who turns back to the children and says something to the effect of “mean it!” and forces a handshake, a hug, or even the dreaded “get along” t-shirt.  Even as an adult, I sometimes struggle with "checking the box” and give a half-hearted attempt at something.  It’s been about 30 years since my brother and I were forced to stretch the collar of a double-XL t-shirt until we were no longer fighting, but the lesson is still the same – you gotta mean it.

This passage in Peter is almost daunting, as it challenges our way of thinking and behaving entirely.  Verses 9 – 11 remind us to love and serve each without grumbling and to do so with the strength that God provides.  You might read that and go…“I have to serve with the strength of God?! How can I possibly do that?”  Then we realize: we can’t.  The passage doesn’t command us to serve with the strength of God, but rather the strength from God.

This difference is deeply profound, as we are reminded of our shortcomings as people but also comforted in the goodness of our Savior.  That He will provide what strength we need, that He will shepherd us through serving so long as we show up with a servant’s heart!  Suddenly the command to love each other the way God loves us is no longer daunting, and brings total peace…but only if we also choose to surrender entirely to Christ.   We realize that the strength to live like Christ can only come from Christ.

The opening of the passage reminds us of His sacrifice on the cross for us, and further challenges us to bring the “same attitude” for that “whoever suffers in the body is done with sin”.  To me, the use of “suffers” in this sentence is powerful.  It’s confusing for a second until you realize what it means: that to a person whose desires are earthly, to suffer would be to live like God.  We are intentionally called to suffer in this way; not to bring us pain, but rather to deliver us from it. 

Verses 2 and 3 remind us of this – that we are no longer agents of ourselves, and we have chosen to be ambassadors of God. We are called to walk, talk, think, and serve like Christ.  Using the strength that only Christ can provide us.  We gotta mean it. 

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PRAYER

Lord - we want to mean it, but we fall short every time. We accept you into our hearts and to our minds, and we surrender our thoughts, our actions, and our desires to you and you alone. We are so grateful that you accept our shortcomings, and you sent your Son to die because of them. Please grant us the humility to accept your sacrifice on the cross in every thought and action, and let us not be discouraged when we fail, but encouraged that we have a God that loves us and who challenges us to live like Him.

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About the Author

MICHAEL GUASTELLA

I have been a Hilliard resident since 2022, and have lived in Columbus about 11 years. I am originally from the Cleveland area. I work in downtown Columbus as a government affairs consultant. My wife, Rachael, and I have been attending UALC since early 2024.