- Here again I am struck with the remembrance of Jesus' last prayer as recorded in John chapter 17, "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." Paul's exhortation in 1 Cor. 13 also comes to mind, that the greatest of all the fruit of the Spirit is love.
- "Live in harmony with one another," Peter says. "Be sympathetic; love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." He tells us how to do it by not repaying evil with evil or trading insult for insult but rather with blessing. How are we doing? If we were to ask the world around us, "How are we doing?" By looking at our individual lives, I wonder what they would say? I think, sadly, we already know how they judge us as a whole. As I look around at all the churches on street corners, sometimes 3 and 4 on one corner, I wonder why we don't have more of an impact. Could it be failure to obey the above instruction? We fail to love one another? We fail to sacrifice ourselves for each other, as Christ did for us? Paul said in Phil. 2:3, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
- We're still too sensitive. Still too caught up in our flesh. Still following the world where "I" am the center of the universe; where it's all about me. That's the opposite of Christ's example and teaching. We're still babes, where by now some of us should be more mature. Father, help us please.
Continuing in 1 Peter 3: 10-12:
"Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from evil 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 are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
- Often God's promises are contingent on obedience to a command. Here he says if we would love life and see good days, we must refrain from evil speech. We must turn from evil and do good. We must SEEK peace and PURSUE it. This is continuous; a continuous dying to the flesh. We're in a marathon, not a sprint. We, the collective body of Christ, are in the Olympics, in case no one told you, and the world is our audience. In our race, many obstacles are thrown in our path to test our obedience, or to strengthen our faith and develop perseverance. When the other runners on the track push us or cause us to fall, how do we respond? Do we show sportsmanship or throw a tantrum? Do we get up and keep running as though it's just about us or care for any others that may have tripped and fallen or may have been hurt, like in Jesus' parable about the Good Samaritan?
- "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer." Ahhh, how that encourages me. He sees, He knows, He cares and He hears me. Whether man shows appreciation or not for the sacrifices, whether man understands or not, God does. It is He that we serve and desire to please. It is He who gives us the strength to keep going.
At the end of 1 Peter chapter 5, Peter instructs, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."
- Many of us know the first part of that popular verse well, that "your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion..." But there's strong encouragement in the second half of that verse. "RESIST him... STAND firm in the faith, BECAUSE... your brothers throughout the WORLD are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."
UNITY:
"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
- Ecclesiastes 4:12
Great, great words, Beverly. When you mentioned how we are in a race, and we are being watched, I was reminded of these verses:
ReplyDelete"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses...let us strip off every weight that slows us down...Work at living in peace with everyone...Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters." (From Hebrews 12 and 13)
GOD BLESS!
Shalom and thanks be to God for your post here today. It is very encouraging.
ReplyDeleteHi Beverly,
ReplyDeleteWhew, there is a lot you packed into this post. Yes, we are to love one another. My church is doing a bible study on the book called, " The Relationship Principles of Jesus." It's all about love, pursuing love, acting and speaking in a loving manner and forgiving. Not being judgmental, but kind and patient and gentle, unselfish. Qualities I have to work on quite a bit. May God shape and mold me into the woman of God he wants me to be. In His Name, Amen.
Blessings,
Judy
Thanks for the visit and the most gracious comment. You are such an encourager. May our God bless you richly and often.
ReplyDeleteSharon - Exactly Sharon. Sometimes we forget that we're not the only one's going through or that we are on display. I'm reminded of Job when God proudly said to the enemy, Look at my servant Job... Not only are the eyes of those who've gone before us are looking and that we are in surrounded by a host of believers going through like trials and temptations. Not only are the eyes of the world on us, but so is the enemy and so is God's.
ReplyDeleteYuri - Thanks for visiting and your encouragement.
Judy - I feel you Judy. I'm going through the books of Peter, so you'll see a lot of my meditations coming from those books. Sometimes it'll be topical and other times explorative - verse by verse. Don't you just enjoy delving into the Word of God? :-)
Covnitkepr1 - Only the truth Stan. You always have a feast to sup on in your posts. (No pun intended.) You are blessed.
Hi Beverly -
ReplyDeleteThis a.m. I had a conversation with one of my cousins about the importance of love. I emphasized quite a bit about it. He agreed.
Then I come to your blog and observe that you have stressed love and GOD's fruits here.
Thank you, Beverly, for being on target about the major importance that must be given to the gifts of Almighty GOD.
Hi Beverly,
ReplyDeleteIt is important to be unifed as the body Christ so we can have the awesome impact that God wants us to have in our world. It is by our love for one another that people we know we belong to Jesus. Great post.
I also just wanted to thank you for your visit and gracious comment. Have a great day!
Hi Beverly,
ReplyDeleteThis is an important topic and one each of us would benefit in reading and hearing the plea in your words. The world does judge us and our life is the testimony of He who lives in us.
"Do we get up and keep running as though it's just about us or care for any others that may have tripped and fallen or may have been hurt, like in Jesus' parable about the Good Samaritan?" -- This question should burn in the hearts of all who read it.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Blessings and peace.
MTJ
HI MTJ, Great to hear from you!
ReplyDelete