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Saturday,
September 12, 2009
Commit
1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that
suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to
him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. (KJV)
1 Peter 4:19
[Suffer
according to the will of God] A man suffers according to the will of
God who suffers for righteousness sake; and who, being reviled, reviles not
again.
[Commit
the keeping of their souls] Place their lives confidently in his hand,
who, being their Creator, will also be their preserver, and keep that
safely which is committed to his trust. God is here represented as
faithful, because he will always fulfil his promises, and withhold no good
thing from them that walk uprightly.
But they had no reason to hope that he
would care for their lives and souls unless they continued in well-doing.
He who is employed in God's work will have God's protection. The path of
duty ever was, and ever will be, the only way of safety.
1. The apostle recommends fervent charity-unfeigned
love both to God and man. It is well said of this grace that it is a
universal virtue which ought to precede, accompany, and follow, all others.
A charity which has God for its principle, and Jesus Christ for its
pattern, never faileth. If our charity be extensive enough to cover all
the defects of our neighbour in bearing with them; that of God is
sufficient to cover all the sins of a sincere penitent by blotting them
out. If we ought to be charitable to all, it is after the example of our
heavenly Father, who is loving to every man, and hateth nothing that he has
made.
2. The difficulty of escaping the
corruption that is in the world is great; and, consequently, the danger of
losing our souls. In this great work, watchfulness, prayer, faith, and
obedience, are indispensably necessary. He who does not walk with God
here cannot see nor enjoy him hereafter.
(from Adam Clarke's Commentary)
1 Peter 4:19
It is the duty of Christians, in all
their distresses, to look more to the keeping of their souls than to the
preserving of their bodies. The soul is of greatest value, and yet in most
danger.
The only way to keep the soul well is to
commit it to God, in well-doing. Commit your souls to God by solemn
dedication, prayer, and patient perseverance in well-doing, (from Matthew
Henry's Commentary)
Thayers definition for ‘commit’:
2. Middle voice: to place down (from
oneself or for oneself) with anyone, to deposit; to entrust, commit to
one's charge Luke 12:48
Don’t be as the many that are unable to
commit to anything but their lower nature which slowly destroys their soul.
Who continue to deposit their soul in unhealthy behavior and relationships
that have them on the broad path to destruction.
Instead, lay down your life and entrust
it to God, for straight is the gate and narrow is the way, and few be there
that find it. Be as the few that continue to commit themselves unto God in
well doing; who knowing that, it is He who is able to save them from death.
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