In the light of Jesus’ already and impending victory, Peter encourages his faith family to be “self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” I think it’s the “and” that requires a balanced temperament and attentive realism. Jesus has—in life, death and resurrection—brought about a living hope, and Jesus is reigning over all degrades life, and Jesus will complete what our Father promised all those millennia ago. As we live in the midst of “and,” let us join together in praying for the sake of our prayers.
Father, we confess that the “end of all things being at hand” is difficult for us to grasp. We confess that what Jesus has done, is doing, and will do; often are mere slogans, drowned out what we’ve done, are doing, and will do.
Father, we pray that our engagement with the world today—our spouses, our opportunities, our roommates, our difficulties, our bosses, our daily tasks, our friends, our aspirations, our co-workers, our frustrations, our neighbors, our societal ills, our family—would weighed through the reality of Jesus’ overcoming. That we would live as if indeed, every divine, every authority, every power is subject to him. And that, because he reigns, we would live with a balanced, gentle temperedness. Responding with the emotions, passions, strength, and actions, appropriate to the flourishing of each.
Father, we pray that we’d be wide away to the way you are making all things new through Jesus. That we would not be caught off guard by our expectations, by your validating tests, by our own sin, or by the enemies efforts. Grant us persevering patience throughout our journey.
Thank you that the difficulty of living amid the “and” is but “a little while,” and that you are the “God of grace, who has called us to your eternal glory in Jesus, who will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us,” forever and ever. Amen.