LIVE LOVE
Question of the day: When you hear LIVE LOVE what do you think about, or what first comes to mind?
Today we are continuing in chapter 3. Before we read the passage I want to give us all a warning. Remember that today's lesson, this passage of scripture was written for you and for me. It was written for us and chosen for us to discuss today. I pray that we will read this passage while only asking the question, "What does this mean for me and how I will live my life?"
READ: 1 Peter 3:8-22
Suffering for Righteousness' Sake
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For
“Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered[a] once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
This has been a rough week for us all. Actually the last two weeks have been difficult. Our country is in even greater turmoil than before, putting all of us in turmoil. Last week I wondered if I should skip ahead to this passage, but chose to the lesson that was planned, knowing that God had knew the timing when He chose this order and this passage. Today's or today's passage, is so applicable for each one of us in this time.
In someways I just want to say, "drop mic Peter, have a happy Sabbath!" Is there really anything else that can be said? Maybe we just need to sit with this passage?
We will however start with verse 8. Verse 8 starts with a very important word, "FINALLY."
Finally, let's us know that this is once again connected to what we have been previously looking at. Peter has been talking to the new Christians who are being persecuted, who are scattered and must feel all alone, about how to live now that they are Christians. He has given specifics and talked about submission a lot and now his wrap up or conclusion... his FINALLY.
Have...
- Unity of mind
- Sympathy
- Brotherly Love
- A tender heart
- Humble mind
For each of us this list will look different. God is needing work on each and everyone of us in these areas, they will often look very different from one another. For each of these 5 practices, God knows what area of your life you need to lay down in order to have them.
BLESS for this you were called...
Bless.
Bless.
How do we as a congregation right here and now "Bless" those in our congregation and those in our community?
Verse 18
FOR...
Because...
Why?
Because of what Christ already did! Because of His example.
How do we as a congregation right here and now "Bless" those in our congregation and those in our community?
Verse 18
FOR...
Because...
Why?
Because of what Christ already did! Because of His example.
This whole book is for Christians and that is profoundly important.
I have often said that the marriage relationship is a beautiful example of what can happen when God is in a relationship. It shouldn't be possible for two people with different back grounds, different often opposing hurts or wounds, two people with different needs, two people with tons of baggage, to come together and live together not only in harmony, but in a relationship where the hard conversations and growth can happen. A relationship that grows deeper, and stronger, through challenging times etc.
None of the above is possible outside of a relationship with Christ. This passage is for Christians. For those who are looking to Christ as their Savior. This is for those who are looking to Christ to save them from the plight of this world. This is for those who have accepted a gift of eternal life, freedom, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. It is because of those gifts, it is because of what He has already done, that we are called to act accordingly!
Why is this important?
We love obsessing about what others should or should not be doing!
We love judging the miss steps of others.
Go with me for a moment....
If we have these gifts.
If we have been called to let the world, (our community) know what Christ has done for them...
If we are supposed to be sharing these gifts with the world so that they will see Jesus and accept Him,
Perhaps when we see those around us living and behaving in a very different fashion, perhaps instead of judging them, we should judge ourselves. Perhaps it is a reflection on us (the Christian community) that we haven't done enough. We haven't been living LOVE to those around us. At the very least shouldn't that be a question we ask ourselves? Perhaps instead of judging we should feel a new found passion for sharing Jesus with the world!
When we see cops killing black men and women and even children, when we see people killing each other, when we see white teens and even adults posting vulgar video's reenacting murder, perhaps we should ask ourselves the question, "have we been doing enough to share Jesus with our community?"
Don't miss understand me!!!!! I am not saying that instead of marching for change we should be holding a Revelation Seminar. I AM saying we need to make sure this lights a fire in us all to speak up, to help those who need help, to share the good news of salvation by doing exactly what Peter is saying... LIVE LOVE!
What does to LIVE LOVE look like?
Peter tells us, that is exactly what this whole lesson is about and the lessons before it!
What evil is in your heart?
Will you take that question to God this morning?
What evil do you need to turn away from?
DO GOOD!
SEEK and PURSUE PEACE!!!!
This isn't brushing it under the rug! This is being willing to walk together, to listen and talk, to walk along side each other, to be willing to do the hard work together. Peace, real peace in any relationship only comes when the real work is done! We have not had peace in our country EVER!!!! Therefore we have not had peace in our local community, in our church and even in our homes EVER!!!! Let's seek peace and pursue it because that is what we are called to do!
I have often said that the marriage relationship is a beautiful example of what can happen when God is in a relationship. It shouldn't be possible for two people with different back grounds, different often opposing hurts or wounds, two people with different needs, two people with tons of baggage, to come together and live together not only in harmony, but in a relationship where the hard conversations and growth can happen. A relationship that grows deeper, and stronger, through challenging times etc.
None of the above is possible outside of a relationship with Christ. This passage is for Christians. For those who are looking to Christ as their Savior. This is for those who are looking to Christ to save them from the plight of this world. This is for those who have accepted a gift of eternal life, freedom, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. It is because of those gifts, it is because of what He has already done, that we are called to act accordingly!
Why is this important?
We love obsessing about what others should or should not be doing!
We love judging the miss steps of others.
Go with me for a moment....
If we have these gifts.
If we have been called to let the world, (our community) know what Christ has done for them...
If we are supposed to be sharing these gifts with the world so that they will see Jesus and accept Him,
Perhaps when we see those around us living and behaving in a very different fashion, perhaps instead of judging them, we should judge ourselves. Perhaps it is a reflection on us (the Christian community) that we haven't done enough. We haven't been living LOVE to those around us. At the very least shouldn't that be a question we ask ourselves? Perhaps instead of judging we should feel a new found passion for sharing Jesus with the world!
When we see cops killing black men and women and even children, when we see people killing each other, when we see white teens and even adults posting vulgar video's reenacting murder, perhaps we should ask ourselves the question, "have we been doing enough to share Jesus with our community?"
Don't miss understand me!!!!! I am not saying that instead of marching for change we should be holding a Revelation Seminar. I AM saying we need to make sure this lights a fire in us all to speak up, to help those who need help, to share the good news of salvation by doing exactly what Peter is saying... LIVE LOVE!
What does to LIVE LOVE look like?
Peter tells us, that is exactly what this whole lesson is about and the lessons before it!
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.I want to close with this...
"let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it."
What evil is in your heart?
Will you take that question to God this morning?
What evil do you need to turn away from?
DO GOOD!
SEEK and PURSUE PEACE!!!!
This isn't brushing it under the rug! This is being willing to walk together, to listen and talk, to walk along side each other, to be willing to do the hard work together. Peace, real peace in any relationship only comes when the real work is done! We have not had peace in our country EVER!!!! Therefore we have not had peace in our local community, in our church and even in our homes EVER!!!! Let's seek peace and pursue it because that is what we are called to do!
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