1 Peter 2:13 - 25
During the 9:30 am service on Sunday we did some brainstorming about the things we see in this world that are unfair. See here, for what we came up with.
In dealing with the unfairness of the world, we can turn our anger outward and seek revenge on others, or we can turn our anger inward, and act like a victim. These responses hurt either others or ourselves. The response that Peter gives us is to look upward to Jesus and follow his example. "When they hurled insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead he entrusted himself to him who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:23).
Peter shows us that there is hope beyond the unfairness of life. The cross of Jesus was the ultimate demonstration that the world is unfair. Yet, the cross is also the ultimate statement that God is working to bring about a new future that is beyond the unfairness of this world. This new future can be ours as we allow the example of Christ to determine our reaction to unfairness in this world. I came across a great quote: Hope lights a candle instead of curing the darkness. The unfairness of the world will remain until Christ comes, but through hope in Christ, we can live with it and bring the light of Christ to alleviate some of it.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Hope beyond bitterness
1 Peter 3:8 - 16
There are often times when we are left feeling hard done by others. We have sought to do the best for someone else, and they in turn have misunderstood what we've tried to do, they have ignored or made slight of our efforts, they have ridiculed us. Other times we may think that people don't respect something in the way they should, they don't behave like we think they should. There may be unresolved conflict. All of this can lead to bitterness within us. However, Peter tells us not to repay evil for evil, instead we are to repay them with blessings.
This can be hard to do. How do you bless someone who has hurt you to the core of your being? We can only do this as we embrace the hope of the coming of Jesus and know that already we have his presence and this gives us hope beyond our bitterness.
1 seek God's blessings in whatever situation you're in. Know that as unfair and hard done by you may feel, God is with you, loving you and journeying through it with you. When all others may desert you, he won't.
2 don't be afraid. Bitterness comes about when we think that we don't have any control over our situation. We can choose how to respond, we can choose what effect the other person will have on us. We don't have to be afraid, because God is in control.
3 acknowledge that Christ is lord of all things, including this situation. He will show us the way of living that is different from bitterness and he will give us the ability to provide a positive witness to him.
There are often times when we are left feeling hard done by others. We have sought to do the best for someone else, and they in turn have misunderstood what we've tried to do, they have ignored or made slight of our efforts, they have ridiculed us. Other times we may think that people don't respect something in the way they should, they don't behave like we think they should. There may be unresolved conflict. All of this can lead to bitterness within us. However, Peter tells us not to repay evil for evil, instead we are to repay them with blessings.
This can be hard to do. How do you bless someone who has hurt you to the core of your being? We can only do this as we embrace the hope of the coming of Jesus and know that already we have his presence and this gives us hope beyond our bitterness.
1 seek God's blessings in whatever situation you're in. Know that as unfair and hard done by you may feel, God is with you, loving you and journeying through it with you. When all others may desert you, he won't.
2 don't be afraid. Bitterness comes about when we think that we don't have any control over our situation. We can choose how to respond, we can choose what effect the other person will have on us. We don't have to be afraid, because God is in control.
3 acknowledge that Christ is lord of all things, including this situation. He will show us the way of living that is different from bitterness and he will give us the ability to provide a positive witness to him.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Hope beyond division
1 Peter 1:23 - 2:3
The church, as the body of Christ, is meant to be unified in our following of Jesus, and indeed this is Jesus' prayer in John 17:21 "...that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you." But this has not been the case. For too long and in too many ways, the church (both universal and local) has divided, split and followed individual preferences, at the expense of the witness that Jesus prays we would be.
Unity in the church though is not uniformity. God loves diversity, and wants us to embrace our own unique identity in him. But unity does call from us a common working toward the one goal.
The good news though, is that in this time of waiting for the second coming of Jesus, there is hope beyond our divisions. Our hope comes from:
1 our common birth into the family of God, not through our own effort or worth, but through the gracious act of God.
2 the bible that we have in common, and the way the Holy Spirit can inspire us to live out the new creation that we are in Jesus Christ.
3 the ability we have, through the Holy Spirit, to put behind us the ways that lead to division and instead grow toward unity.
What does this hope mean for you in your life? How are you able to grow beyond those patterns of behaviour that cause division, and instead, in Christ, embrace our common baptism into the life and death of Jesus Christ?
The church, as the body of Christ, is meant to be unified in our following of Jesus, and indeed this is Jesus' prayer in John 17:21 "...that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you." But this has not been the case. For too long and in too many ways, the church (both universal and local) has divided, split and followed individual preferences, at the expense of the witness that Jesus prays we would be.
Unity in the church though is not uniformity. God loves diversity, and wants us to embrace our own unique identity in him. But unity does call from us a common working toward the one goal.
The good news though, is that in this time of waiting for the second coming of Jesus, there is hope beyond our divisions. Our hope comes from:
1 our common birth into the family of God, not through our own effort or worth, but through the gracious act of God.
2 the bible that we have in common, and the way the Holy Spirit can inspire us to live out the new creation that we are in Jesus Christ.
3 the ability we have, through the Holy Spirit, to put behind us the ways that lead to division and instead grow toward unity.
What does this hope mean for you in your life? How are you able to grow beyond those patterns of behaviour that cause division, and instead, in Christ, embrace our common baptism into the life and death of Jesus Christ?
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