Attitudes pleasing to
God
Key Verses: 1, 4, 8, 11, 17,
There is
something about physical suffering that binds people together. The military
uses shared physical stresses to build unit cohesion and esprit de corps. When
we train together in difficult conditions we join together in different ways
than if we trained without the difficult conditions. Basic training is just such
an experience. We enter as individual without a common identity and leave
unified in purpose. At least that is what the advertising says!
When
Jesus-followers suffer for doing what is right we join with Jesus in His
suffering. We draw close to Him in new ways and our identity gets sealed with
His. These early believers demonstrated their trust in Him when physical
retribution was handed out. Millions of Jesus-followers face the same threats
today. And for many the threats get acted upon by those who opposed Jesus. A
good resource to learn more about this kind of modern day persecution is www.persecution.org.
When we
care enough about each other, the love we demonstrate smoothes over those small
things that really don’t matter. Another way to say this would be that
persecution resets our priorities. We learn what is really important, and the
other things just get dropped. Christ’s love covered our sins, so His love
flowing through us should do likewise toward others.
I
sometimes have to pause and reflect when I hear statements from believers about
God’s judgment connected to natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes or
tornadoes. I don’t know whether God is judging in these moments, but I have
grave doubts it is true. If God is going to begin judging, He will begin with
His own family. There is enough cleaning up within the Body to keep Him busy
for years.
The Day
of Judgment is coming, but we are living in a time of extended grace. He wants
people to repent. He is delaying judgment to give them that opportunity. His
scrutiny begins with us, His household. We need to be living lives pleasing to
Him. We need to be clean in order for His hope to be seen in us. If we are all
messed up, what non-believer in their right mind will come to ask us to show
them the way in life. If we can’t walk straight, how will we lead the way so
that people will follow.