Giving Account to the Judge 1 Peter 4:5

Peter the apostle told the Christians who were “scattered” abroad that their behavior would not be looked upon favorably by unbelievers. He wrote they would “think it strange” that “you run not with them to the same excess of riot” and this would result in them “speaking evil of you”. In chapter four and verse five of his letter, Peter tells the Christians these unbelievers will “give account to him that is ready to judge” where we read:

Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

The verse begins, “Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge...” Peter began with the word, “who” which refers to those who “speak evil” of Christians “shall give” or “will deliver, give away for one's own profit what is owed, sell, pay off, discharge, render and restore” “account” which means “speech, a word, utterance and discourse” “to him that is” which refers to “to have and hold in possession of the mind, to hold fast, keep, comprise, involve, regard, consider and possess” “ready” or “in a state of readiness” “to judge” which means “separate, put asunder, pick out, select, choose, approve, esteem and prefer”. Peter desired for the Christians to know there will be an “accounting” for the actions of those who oppose them.

The verse continues, “...the quick and the dead.” Peter added, “the quick” which means “the living, breathing and full of vigor” “and the dead” or “one that has breathed his last, lifeless, deceased, departed, inanimate and destitute of life”. The “judge” stands “in a state of readiness” to “approve or disapprove” of the behavior of both those who are living and those who have died.

When we meditate upon Peter's words, we understand that those who “speak evil” of Christians will have a day when they meet “the judge” of the universe, and they shall give an “account” of their actions, words and activities in this life. Some, according to Peter, will meet God who is “ready to judge” the living as well. We should be motivated to live as the Lord Jesus desires, and when those opposed to us “speak evil”, remember, they will face God Almighty one day and “render an account”.

Next time Peter tells the Christians the “gospel” was “preached to them that are dead”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.