Ready, Fire, Aim!

1 Peter 4:7-11

Peter was a “ready, fire, aim” kinda’ guy. He acted before he thought. He spoke before he considered the consequences. After all, he was a man’s man who lived by his actions, not by thoughtful introspection.

 During the three years of Jesus’ ministry, Peter would often say what the other disciples were only thinking. He seemed to have no resistors to prevent whatever thought was going through his mind, from coming out of his mouth. The result was that Peter would find himself sticking his foot in his mouth.

But Peter was also a leader, and he genuinely loved Christ. He had many gifts and Jesus saw this. So as Jesus was preparing for his death and resurrection, he asked Peter, “Do you love me”? Jesus was putting Peter in charge, not that Peter seemed to need this; he took charge regardless. But something changed after this.

Instead of speaking or acting without thinking, he gave thoughtful consideration. Peter wrote this letter to believers who were under great pressure of persecution. They needed every insight, every teaching, every encouragement that they could get.

One thing Peter had learned was, you can’t make it on your own. You need others to support and encourage you. He had lived his life as a self-made man who ran a competitive business that depended on his skills, experience and immediate action. He had relied on himself to survive.

But he had changed. And when he changed, he knew the importance of teamwork; of family; of friendship; of being a body of believers. He knew the importance of trust and faith in others. He knew the importance of relying on others.

 ¹⁰ God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. ¹¹ Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. NLT

“Ready, fire, aim” was the old Peter. The new Peter was all about using his gifts in the service of the Lord, and encouraging others to do the same.

(You might also read Romans 12:4-8 & 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.)