Reading for January 26th

 Read 1 Peter 4.1-11. In verses 1-6: The final judgment. Thy hymn about Jesus leads naturally to the Day of Judgment. In verses 1-4: Baptismal transformation means the end of life in the flesh but the beginning of life according to the will of God. Conversion means a clear break with the ways of one's neighbor's, who ridicule converts for their distinctive behavior (2.18-3.17). In verses 5-6: Judgment confronts all, good and bad, living and dead. Christ proclaimed the gospel even to the dead so that all maybe saved. In verses 7-11: Final judgment; ideal response. The judgment mentioned above controls how we read vv. 7-11. In verses 7-9: Unlike their indulgent neighbors, Christians demonstrate disciplined lives whose purity validates their prayers . Avoiding indulgence, they maintain constant love and practice hospitality, thus putting others before themselves. In verses 10-11: God's gifts are a patron's benediction to his clients. Conversely, clients offer glory or honor to their patron in the doxology. Comments or Questions..