"Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp- tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless– that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here's what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things. If with heart and soul you're doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you're still better off. Don't give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath. It's better to suffer for doing good, if that's what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That's what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others 'sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all– was put to death and then made alive– to bring us to God."
(1 Peter 3:8-18, MSG).
(1 Peter 3:8-18, MSG).
What a humbling passage. We as Christ-followers think that following Christ means being "righteous" – being better than everyone else. We think that it's our job to convert people by shoving God down peoples' throats, when in reality, we don't have to do anything but be love. It's our job to live like Christ lived – it's God's job to use our compassionate lives to bring people to Him.
This is so hard for me… Answering my friends' questions about my faith and Jesus and what I believe, but then still watching them reject Him. I know I'm not the only one who this is hard for. That's why I wanted to write this blog post as an encouragement to my brothers and sisters who sometimes feel discouraged. Keep living with Christ at the centre of your life. Continue being and showing love to everyone you speak to and meet every day – whether it be a stranger, or somebody you've known for a long time. Continue pouring your heart into Jesus and keep your heart softened to the work He wants to do in it. God will use you to change the world! He will use you in the loves of people in your life whether you know it or not. He doesn't need your efforts — He just needs your availability and your genuine, loving heart.
This is so hard for me… Answering my friends' questions about my faith and Jesus and what I believe, but then still watching them reject Him. I know I'm not the only one who this is hard for. That's why I wanted to write this blog post as an encouragement to my brothers and sisters who sometimes feel discouraged. Keep living with Christ at the centre of your life. Continue being and showing love to everyone you speak to and meet every day – whether it be a stranger, or somebody you've known for a long time. Continue pouring your heart into Jesus and keep your heart softened to the work He wants to do in it. God will use you to change the world! He will use you in the loves of people in your life whether you know it or not. He doesn't need your efforts — He just needs your availability and your genuine, loving heart.
Love,
Your Sister in Christ
