Monday, September 15, 2003
From August 19, 2003
When the moment is real…
“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.’ But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” – I Peter 3:13-15a
The very first verse here is an interesting perspective that comes on the heals of Peter's call to respect everyone. My first thought tonight was of the radical Islamic terrorists who believe that they are following God by killing people who don’t believe what they believe. Even if you respect them, they will still kill you because you don’t believe what they believe.
Peter answers that by saying that even in such a position consider it joy to suffer the trials of life, just as James encourages us to consider it PURE joy when we encounter trials. A God of love holds a greater reward for those who endure persecution for his sake rather than those who inflict it in his name. When will the ultra-radical, ultra-conservative churches learn that??? I dare say that in some cases (like Fred Phelps) they will never learn it for their father is the same as the terrorists and he is the father of all hate.
So what ARE we called to do?
Set Christ up as Lord of our lives. When we do that we can trust in his great and precious promises. We can know with full assurance that our sins are forgiven and our salvation is assured. We can know that no matter what the circumstance of our lives, no matter what the persecution, no matter what the hardship, our father is working for good and he has promised blessings on our lives.
In that we have hope. And when our faith is firm, our hope will shine… and in that shining our persecutors will see a difference in our lives. Even our friends will see a peace in our lives and wonder what it is that sets us apart from the crowd.
In that moment, we must be prepared to share the reason for our hope – we must be ready to tell of the power of Christ in our life. We will tell with profound joy the truth we know because of Him.
In that moment, there is no reason to be afraid of rejection – no reason to fear offense – no reason to offer defense. That moment – the honest and true moment that someone asks, “why do you have such hope?” is an honest moment where sharing faith comes out of love and comes through an experience of life. That moment is when our lives affect others practically in deed. In that there is no judgment, no chance for hurtful emotions or words. In that moment of practical realization, the gospel has its greatest power because its relevance is so true, and is seen in action.
When the moment is real…
“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.’ But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” – I Peter 3:13-15a
The very first verse here is an interesting perspective that comes on the heals of Peter's call to respect everyone. My first thought tonight was of the radical Islamic terrorists who believe that they are following God by killing people who don’t believe what they believe. Even if you respect them, they will still kill you because you don’t believe what they believe.
Peter answers that by saying that even in such a position consider it joy to suffer the trials of life, just as James encourages us to consider it PURE joy when we encounter trials. A God of love holds a greater reward for those who endure persecution for his sake rather than those who inflict it in his name. When will the ultra-radical, ultra-conservative churches learn that??? I dare say that in some cases (like Fred Phelps) they will never learn it for their father is the same as the terrorists and he is the father of all hate.
So what ARE we called to do?
Set Christ up as Lord of our lives. When we do that we can trust in his great and precious promises. We can know with full assurance that our sins are forgiven and our salvation is assured. We can know that no matter what the circumstance of our lives, no matter what the persecution, no matter what the hardship, our father is working for good and he has promised blessings on our lives.
In that we have hope. And when our faith is firm, our hope will shine… and in that shining our persecutors will see a difference in our lives. Even our friends will see a peace in our lives and wonder what it is that sets us apart from the crowd.
In that moment, we must be prepared to share the reason for our hope – we must be ready to tell of the power of Christ in our life. We will tell with profound joy the truth we know because of Him.
In that moment, there is no reason to be afraid of rejection – no reason to fear offense – no reason to offer defense. That moment – the honest and true moment that someone asks, “why do you have such hope?” is an honest moment where sharing faith comes out of love and comes through an experience of life. That moment is when our lives affect others practically in deed. In that there is no judgment, no chance for hurtful emotions or words. In that moment of practical realization, the gospel has its greatest power because its relevance is so true, and is seen in action.
From August 17
Advance peace, not sin
“For,
Whoever would love life and see good days
Must keep his tongue from evil & his lips from
Deceitful speech
He must turn from evil and do good;
He must seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
And His ears attend to their prayers.
But the face of the Lord is against those
who do evil.”
- I Peter 3:10-12
- Psalm 34: 12-16
This is a song we sang when I was in Great Commission Ministries. It had a catchy little tune that will now follow me all day. Sometimes I love how scripture songs do that. It’s a great way to memorize!
Anyway… If we want to truly love our lives and want to see good days we must:
1. Keep our speech from evil and from hurting others.
Why do so many fights and conflicts occur today? – Because so and so said “X” about so and so. Our misgoverned speech and harmful tongue cause a lot of problems!
2. We must turn from evil and do good.
Well that almost goes without saying, as Peter says farther down in verse 13: “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?”
3. We must seek peace and pursue it.
It is not just good enough for us to be peaceful. We must live our lives in such a way as to pursue peace.
Pursue: Carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in; follow in, or as if in pursuit; go in search of or hunt for; carry further or advance.
We are to ADVANCE peace.
If we do this, and if we are righteous, we have God’s undivided attention. He ATTENDS to us. But when we pursue evil, when we participate in; follow in; hunt for; advance things that stand in opposition to God, we fall out of God’s favor and his watch is not over us.
In an age of grace, I do not believe this implies a loss of salvation, but we certainly do not stand in God’s FAVOR when our lives are not set on obedience to his call. If we follow ourselves we are not following Christ, we are not advancing Christ, we are not sharing his love.
Advance peace, not sin
“For,
Whoever would love life and see good days
Must keep his tongue from evil & his lips from
Deceitful speech
He must turn from evil and do good;
He must seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
And His ears attend to their prayers.
But the face of the Lord is against those
who do evil.”
- I Peter 3:10-12
- Psalm 34: 12-16
This is a song we sang when I was in Great Commission Ministries. It had a catchy little tune that will now follow me all day. Sometimes I love how scripture songs do that. It’s a great way to memorize!
Anyway… If we want to truly love our lives and want to see good days we must:
1. Keep our speech from evil and from hurting others.
Why do so many fights and conflicts occur today? – Because so and so said “X” about so and so. Our misgoverned speech and harmful tongue cause a lot of problems!
2. We must turn from evil and do good.
Well that almost goes without saying, as Peter says farther down in verse 13: “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?”
3. We must seek peace and pursue it.
It is not just good enough for us to be peaceful. We must live our lives in such a way as to pursue peace.
Pursue: Carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in; follow in, or as if in pursuit; go in search of or hunt for; carry further or advance.
We are to ADVANCE peace.
If we do this, and if we are righteous, we have God’s undivided attention. He ATTENDS to us. But when we pursue evil, when we participate in; follow in; hunt for; advance things that stand in opposition to God, we fall out of God’s favor and his watch is not over us.
In an age of grace, I do not believe this implies a loss of salvation, but we certainly do not stand in God’s FAVOR when our lives are not set on obedience to his call. If we follow ourselves we are not following Christ, we are not advancing Christ, we are not sharing his love.
From August 16, 2003 (Post Black out)
Spread the joy!
“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit blessing.” – I Peter 3:8-9
The more and more I study scripture; so much of it turns to others and how we treat each other. Respect, kindness, compassion, and love – these ring out so often! And what is their result… “So that you may inherit blessing.”
One of my favorite movies is Pay It Forward; the lesson is so simple, as you are blessed, pass on the blessing. Isn’t it interesting how easy it is for us, when we are in a rotten mood, to pass on our anger or frustration to someone else? I know that personally when I am grouchy, I get even grouchier when I see someone having a good time. I sometimes want to wish grouchiness on them.
Why do we do that??? Why do we want others to feel our misery? I think it is because we don’t’ want to be alone. We want to know someone else is feeling what we are feeling; that someone else understands our pain.
Do we ever do the same with joy?
Sometimes: Newborns, weddings, and special occasions…
But on a more daily basis, do we ever see someone and wish that they were feeling joy or peace? We can – just as much as we want others to hurt with us, we can turn peace and joy into contagion and spread it around!
That is what we are called to in Christ. We are called to spread his love – and in that spreads his truth and in truth comes the fact that he is undeniably real and active in the lives of those who know him.
Go out and spread joy and peace! Let it be evident to all that you have something worth paying forward!
Spread the joy!
“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit blessing.” – I Peter 3:8-9
The more and more I study scripture; so much of it turns to others and how we treat each other. Respect, kindness, compassion, and love – these ring out so often! And what is their result… “So that you may inherit blessing.”
One of my favorite movies is Pay It Forward; the lesson is so simple, as you are blessed, pass on the blessing. Isn’t it interesting how easy it is for us, when we are in a rotten mood, to pass on our anger or frustration to someone else? I know that personally when I am grouchy, I get even grouchier when I see someone having a good time. I sometimes want to wish grouchiness on them.
Why do we do that??? Why do we want others to feel our misery? I think it is because we don’t’ want to be alone. We want to know someone else is feeling what we are feeling; that someone else understands our pain.
Do we ever do the same with joy?
Sometimes: Newborns, weddings, and special occasions…
But on a more daily basis, do we ever see someone and wish that they were feeling joy or peace? We can – just as much as we want others to hurt with us, we can turn peace and joy into contagion and spread it around!
That is what we are called to in Christ. We are called to spread his love – and in that spreads his truth and in truth comes the fact that he is undeniably real and active in the lives of those who know him.
Go out and spread joy and peace! Let it be evident to all that you have something worth paying forward!
I Peter 3
I’ve now hit a section of scripture that is controversial today. In times past, such scripture was taken strictly verbatim and even used to justify the fight that wives should be considered property of their husbands. Today, such thinking seems ludicrous. Yet despite its controversy, I Peter 3:1-7 has some good words for us today…
“Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.� I Peter 3:1-2
“Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.� I Peter 3:7
Husbands and wives must respect each other for the benefit of each other. While there is much more that can be said for this passage, the bottom line of it all is that if we respect and love each other, and have genuine care and concern as Christ has for us, we will build each other up and help each other to grow.
I’ve now hit a section of scripture that is controversial today. In times past, such scripture was taken strictly verbatim and even used to justify the fight that wives should be considered property of their husbands. Today, such thinking seems ludicrous. Yet despite its controversy, I Peter 3:1-7 has some good words for us today…
“Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.� I Peter 3:1-2
“Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.� I Peter 3:7
Husbands and wives must respect each other for the benefit of each other. While there is much more that can be said for this passage, the bottom line of it all is that if we respect and love each other, and have genuine care and concern as Christ has for us, we will build each other up and help each other to grow.
