"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 a blessing." 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)
Writing to "the pilgrims", the scattered Christians now strangers in a land that is not their own,
The Apostle Peter provides them with instruction on how to live honorably before unbelievers, before fellow believers, and in the midst of suffering.
We would do well to also follow these guidelines for Christian living. Because of their words and actions, some people are just plain hard to love. However, we must learn to live in harmony with all of God's people. We need to be sympathetic when sympathy is needed, compassionate when comfort is needed, and to be humble and loving at all times. We should show Christian love to others regardless of what is displayed to us. How do we bless folk who are not kind to us? We pray for them, speak well of them (find something good to say), and pray for their salvation and well being. By doing that, we will be blessed.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Who Are You Connected To?
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples." John 15:1-8 (NIV)
Just before the passover feast, Jesus was with His disciples, telling them of things to come. After He had washed their feet, predicted His betrayal, and predicted Peter's denial, He sought to comfort them. He encouraged them to remain in Him, to be true to His word, and He would remain in them.
The analogy of a fruit bearing branch is so clear. If a branch is not connected to the main vine and its roots, it cannot receive the sustenance it needs to remain alive and bear fruit. Likewise, we can do nothing if we are not connected to Jesus. He is the source of our strength and our life. We cannot bear fruit or continue to exist without Him. If we are not connected to Jesus, then we are like dead branches, good for nothing but to be cast into the fire.
Just before the passover feast, Jesus was with His disciples, telling them of things to come. After He had washed their feet, predicted His betrayal, and predicted Peter's denial, He sought to comfort them. He encouraged them to remain in Him, to be true to His word, and He would remain in them.
The analogy of a fruit bearing branch is so clear. If a branch is not connected to the main vine and its roots, it cannot receive the sustenance it needs to remain alive and bear fruit. Likewise, we can do nothing if we are not connected to Jesus. He is the source of our strength and our life. We cannot bear fruit or continue to exist without Him. If we are not connected to Jesus, then we are like dead branches, good for nothing but to be cast into the fire.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Comfort For Those Who Mourn
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4 (NIV)
The second of the Beatitudes that Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount addresses those who grieve and mourn. This suggests that God knows who is grieving and why, and He will comfort them.
The death of a loved one, though not the only cause, is the most common cause for people to mourn. Even for Christians, who should be celebrating the home going of a loved one, still mourn their death. Intellectually, we know that "to be absent from the body ... present with The Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8), but our emotions get the best of us and we mourn. We know that "... blessed are the dead which die in The Lord ... they ... rest from their labours" (Revelation 14:13), and we know that "Precious in the sight of The Lord is the death of His saints." (Psalms 116:15). Mourning is a natural human emotion. We cannot stop someone from mourning, but with the help of God, we can be there for them to comfort them. Be sure that you pray before you speak to someone who is mourning.
The second of the Beatitudes that Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount addresses those who grieve and mourn. This suggests that God knows who is grieving and why, and He will comfort them.
The death of a loved one, though not the only cause, is the most common cause for people to mourn. Even for Christians, who should be celebrating the home going of a loved one, still mourn their death. Intellectually, we know that "to be absent from the body ... present with The Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8), but our emotions get the best of us and we mourn. We know that "... blessed are the dead which die in The Lord ... they ... rest from their labours" (Revelation 14:13), and we know that "Precious in the sight of The Lord is the death of His saints." (Psalms 116:15). Mourning is a natural human emotion. We cannot stop someone from mourning, but with the help of God, we can be there for them to comfort them. Be sure that you pray before you speak to someone who is mourning.
Friday, May 4, 2012
To Whom Much Is Given Much Is Required
"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:47-48 (NIV)
Luke, the physician, offers warnings and encouragements to the people. Those who do wrong but do not know any better, will still be punished for doing wrong. However, those who do wrong and know that what they are doing is wrong, will be punished more severely than the uninformed wrong doer.
More will be expected from those who are given more, entrusted with more, and who know more. When you know better, you should do better. Sin is sin, and wrong is wrong, but our punishment for wrong doing will depend upon our knowledge of right and wrong. When we know that what we are doing is wrong, and we continue to do it, our chastisement will be greater because of our willful commission of wrong. We need to pray for God's help in the avoidance of sins committed knowingly and intentionally.
Luke, the physician, offers warnings and encouragements to the people. Those who do wrong but do not know any better, will still be punished for doing wrong. However, those who do wrong and know that what they are doing is wrong, will be punished more severely than the uninformed wrong doer.
More will be expected from those who are given more, entrusted with more, and who know more. When you know better, you should do better. Sin is sin, and wrong is wrong, but our punishment for wrong doing will depend upon our knowledge of right and wrong. When we know that what we are doing is wrong, and we continue to do it, our chastisement will be greater because of our willful commission of wrong. We need to pray for God's help in the avoidance of sins committed knowingly and intentionally.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Want To Be Richly Blessed?
"As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.' For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of The Lord will be saved.' " Romans 10:11-13 (NIV)
In his letter to the Christians in Rome, the Apostle Paul tells them that salvation is available to all. He says Jesus Christ is The Lord of Lords, and He will richly bless all who believe in Him.
The same is still true today. When God made us, He gave us the freedom of choice. We can choose to believe in Jesus The Christ, or we can choose not to believe. All of us who believe in Jesus will be saved and richly blessed, those who don't, won't.
In his letter to the Christians in Rome, the Apostle Paul tells them that salvation is available to all. He says Jesus Christ is The Lord of Lords, and He will richly bless all who believe in Him.
The same is still true today. When God made us, He gave us the freedom of choice. We can choose to believe in Jesus The Christ, or we can choose not to believe. All of us who believe in Jesus will be saved and richly blessed, those who don't, won't.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Overcome Evil With Good
"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says The Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:17-21 (NIV)
The Apostle Paul is presenting guidelines for Christian living to the Christians in Rome. He offers several examples to clarify the point he made in verse one, do not act like the unsaved people of the world act. Here his point is that they should not do someone wrong to repay that someone for a wrong done to them. They should continue to be nice to them, God will avenge the wrong done to His saints.
We should not return evil for evil. We should be nice to those people who do us wrong, those who use, misuse us, abuse us, and to those who lie on us and lie to us. We should basically, as the old saying goes, "kill them with kindness." By doing so, we will "heap burning coals on their heads." The best way to overcome evil is to do good. "... For it is written, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' saith The Lord." Romans 12:19 (KJV)
The Apostle Paul is presenting guidelines for Christian living to the Christians in Rome. He offers several examples to clarify the point he made in verse one, do not act like the unsaved people of the world act. Here his point is that they should not do someone wrong to repay that someone for a wrong done to them. They should continue to be nice to them, God will avenge the wrong done to His saints.
We should not return evil for evil. We should be nice to those people who do us wrong, those who use, misuse us, abuse us, and to those who lie on us and lie to us. We should basically, as the old saying goes, "kill them with kindness." By doing so, we will "heap burning coals on their heads." The best way to overcome evil is to do good. "... For it is written, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' saith The Lord." Romans 12:19 (KJV)
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
We Must Go Through Many Hardships
"They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. 'We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,' they said." Acts 14:21-22 (NIV)
Paul and Barnabas travelled about preaching and teaching about Jesus. While large numbers of Jews and Gentiles heard them and believed, there were also large numbers of people who did not believe them and wanted to stone them. They left those cities and went elsewhere to preach the gospel, but the later returned to the cities where they were both loved and hated. At the risk of harm to themselves, their purpose was to encourage the believers to keep the faith.
Most of us do not live in countries where we are persecuted for our beliefs. However, during these difficult economic times, a lot of us are experiencing hardships of one kind or another. We are bombarded daily with all kinds of non-Christian philosophies and temptations that test our faith. We need to stand strong as we deal with our many trials and tribulations and we need to encourage others to do likewise. The words we say to encourage others, may very well be helpful to us also. Remember, God will never leave us, or forsake us. If He brought us to it, He can bring us through it.
Paul and Barnabas travelled about preaching and teaching about Jesus. While large numbers of Jews and Gentiles heard them and believed, there were also large numbers of people who did not believe them and wanted to stone them. They left those cities and went elsewhere to preach the gospel, but the later returned to the cities where they were both loved and hated. At the risk of harm to themselves, their purpose was to encourage the believers to keep the faith.
Most of us do not live in countries where we are persecuted for our beliefs. However, during these difficult economic times, a lot of us are experiencing hardships of one kind or another. We are bombarded daily with all kinds of non-Christian philosophies and temptations that test our faith. We need to stand strong as we deal with our many trials and tribulations and we need to encourage others to do likewise. The words we say to encourage others, may very well be helpful to us also. Remember, God will never leave us, or forsake us. If He brought us to it, He can bring us through it.
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