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This week’s devotions are based on the Week 10 “Explore God” – A Life Worth Inquiring About! (WATCH HERE)

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People notice when we love our enemies.

1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

At face value, one can read this passage and say, “I agree.”  In practical application, it is very hard because our sinful nature loves to react to getting wronged by wronging the person back.

What makes these words even more challenging, especially to the first readers of them, is that people were persecuting them because of their faith in Jesus.  So their response to the evil or insult would be a direct reflection on their Christian faith.

Perhaps we believe we can get away with a little “mean” because no one knows we are a Christian.  In a sporting event, if we feel someone wronged us, it is easy to push a little harder than needed the next time.  As we drive down the road and someone cuts us off, it is tempting to speed around them and brake in front of them.  If someone says something mean about us in a meeting at work, it’s tempting to make sure gossip is spread in the breakroom about them in the days that follow.

It’s much easier to repay evil with evil and insult with insult.

But anyone can do that.  It is “normal” and doesn’t stand out.  In fact, we often hear, “They had it coming” or “They deserved it” as if repaying evil with evil and insult with insult is expected and “just.”

But what if we repaid evil with a blessing or an insult with a compliment?

That would stand out…because it runs against the normal response.

When someone does evil to you…”I forgive you” or “I will pray for you.”

When someone insults you…”I wish you the best” or “I pray for God to bless you.”

Weird, right?

It doesn’t come natural and to be honest even in writing the thought went through my mind, “What does that look like?”

We all have to work on it.

As always, we have Jesus’ encouragement and example:

His encouragement:

Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

His example:

Luke 23:33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

The blessing from Jesus is his perfect love of enemies is the substitute we need when we imperfectly love our enemies.  The blessing from Jesus for us, is he loves and forgives us, even though because of sin, we were his enemies.

When we love and forgive our enemies, do you think people may notice? And when people notice, people ask and when people ask, we get the chance to share the reason for the hope we have.  And when we share, the Spirit of God has the chance to work on another heart.

 

Apply: What makes loving your enemies hard for you to do?  What is one thing you may do to show love to someone today when they insult or do evil to you?

Prayer: Father, forgive us when we fail to love our enemies.  Empower us with your Spirit to return insult and evil with a blessing.  AMEN.

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  

The value of having Christian friends is having people to practice Christian relationships and attributes with.  Both Peter and Paul encourage the people of God to treat the people of God with the love of Christ.  As one pastor said, “If we can’t get it right in the family of God, we can’t get it right with the people outside the church.”

Imagine if someone visited your church and they witnessed divisiveness, bitterness, a lack of sympathy and empathy, etc.  Do you think that person would come back?  Not a chance.  However, if they experience a culture of relationships that are living in harmony with one another, sympathetic, loving, compassionate and humble, there might be a good chance they would want to experience that again.  The life of a Christian is attractive in a culture that is divided, judgmental, full of pride and a lack of compassion.  When we show up and foster interactions and relationships that are opposite…people might be curious why we act the way we do.  And when they do, we get to have a conversation that shares the heart of our faith in Jesus…his love for us.

But it’s not easy.  We all have a sinful nature that wants to do the opposite of what the Spirit wants us to do.  We need the help of God’s Spirit to exhibit these qualities.  It’s quite a list:

• Live in harmony with one another.  We may not always agree, but we won’t let it cause division.  We will be willing to yield our opinion for the sake of maintaining harmony.
• Be sympathetic.  People go through hard times.  Our hearts lead us to listen, care, and serve in a time of need.
• Love as brothers.  Family is there for each other.  The depth of love moves beyond a superficial care to a deep concern.
• Be compassionate.  Feel for others.  Don’t minimize what they are going through or the feelings they are experiencing.  Take time to listen, understand and care.
• Be humble.  Pride is a tough thing to put away.  We naturally want to be the most important, our ideas always heard, and our way always taken.  But others interests must come before our own.

This is just Peter’s list…Paul adds this to the list

• Be kind.  Kindness takes sacrifice.  Helping someone may not be convenient, but it’s noticed.
• Be patient. Sometimes we have to wait for someone to understand, for something to happen, for someone to learn.  Patience is a virtue.
• Forgive.  How important forgiveness is to heal wounds caused by sin.  Forgiveness gives up the right to get even and is interested in preserving the relationship more than getting even.
• Put on love.  We love because Jesus first loved us.  If we ever question how to show love, we simply go back to the love that God has shown to us.

It’s not easy, but that’s why we get to practice Christ’s love with our friends and Christian family.  As we put Christ’s love into practice, it sets up an opportunity for our light to shine and people to notice.  And when people notice, people ask and when people ask, we get the chance to share the reason for the hope we have.  And when we share, the Spirit of God has the chance to work on another heart.

 

Apply: What attribute listed above is one you would like to work on with or within your Christian family?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for friends and Christian family to both experience and practice loving others like you have loved us.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on the Week 10 “Explore God” – A Life Worth Inquiring About! (WATCH HERE)

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1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

I have used this passage many, many times in my ministry.  But here’s the question that challenged me on this passage: “What would make someone ask?”

Peter is encouraging his readers to be prepared to give a reason for the hope they have…to everyone…who asks you.

So what would make someone ask?

It would probably be a pretty rare thing that someone without any context or relationship with you would ask, “Why do you have the hope you have?”  

When people ask a question, their curiosity has been sparked. Something happens that leads them to ask a question.  You don’t ask for directions unless you are lost.  You don’t ask for help unless the situation is beyond your ability to handle.  You don’t ask for an explanation from your kids unless their behavior has caused a question.

We ask questions when we are curious.

So what would lead someone to ask about the hope that we have?

A logical answer would be because they see a hope in you that they don’t have for themselves, but desire to have.  So they ask.

So if the hope we have because we are connected by faith to Jesus is what is different, how does that show itself to the people around us?  When does the hope we have in Jesus really manifest itself to the people around us?

Perhaps it comes up with the Monday “water cooler” conversation about the world events and coworkers express worry and concern over the end of the world, nuclear war, or escalation of events in the middle east.  When you don’t seem agitated or worked up by it, they ask, “How can you remain so calm and not be worried about escalation of the conflict?”

You now have a question to answer and your hope to share.

Perhaps it’s a conversation around the Thanksgiving Table about a relationship that has gone sour and the family in general is worked up about it and is anxious about dealing with it.  While you sit calmly and offer opportunities to address in a manner of forgiveness and kindness, another relative asks, “How can you be so loving when that’s not what this person deserves?” You now have a question to answer and a hope to share.

Perhaps its interaction with a neighbor who is going through medical challenges.  They remember you sharing a hospital stay and not being anxious or worked up about it.  They ask, “How can you be so calm when life can be so challenging?”

You now have a question to answer and a hope to share.

Everyday interactions are an opportunity to let the love of Jesus shine in and through us to others.  Because Jesus’ love, grace and peace are working in your heart, they naturally spill out into our interactions with others.  When we react or interact with the heart and love of Jesus, it will be noticed because it is different.  And because it is different, people will be curious.  When people are curious, they ask a question.  And when they ask a question, YOU get the chance to share the hope YOU have!

Apply: Pick one of the scenarios in the devotion or make up one on your own. Write down how you would articulate your faith – practice answering the questions people may ask so you are ready when they do!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me a hope to give out to others, AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on the Week 9 “Explore God” – Relationships that Matter! (WATCH HERE)

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Matthew 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9 is filled with Jesus’ encounters with different people.  Here’s a list:

• A paralyzed man brought to him to be healed
• Matthew and his tax collector friends
• John the Baptist’s disciples
• A synagogue leader
• A bleeding woman
• Two blind men
• A mute demon-possessed man
• Religious leaders opposed to him

It’s quite the list of people misled by greed, religious teaching, or the power of demons.  People with physical ailments and spiritual questions.

For Jesus it was all in a day’s work.

However, this wasn’t an isolated occurrence.  Jesus went through all the towns and villages and similar people came to him.  He taught them.  He healed them. He proclaimed the good news of the kingdom to them.

But the crowds kept coming and his heart went out to them.

He saw people misguided with misplace trust and empty hopes and promises.  He saw people stuck in the reality of their sin without forgiveness and without hope.  He saw people hanging on to spiritual teach that was neither true nor comforting.  His heart went out to them because he wanted these people to have a shepherd who would lead them into all truth, all comfort, and all hope.  Instead of being led, people were being harassed and left spiritually helpless.

Can you see the same thing today?

Look at the headlines or listen to the news.  Morals are messed up.  People are living deceptions of reality.  Drugs and alcohol and other addictions try to provide escapes.  The religious landscape is large and confusing yet individuals are told it all leads to the same end.  People are harassed by a bombardment of deceptive thoughts, superficial hope, and spiritual confusion.  Do our hearts go out to them?  Do we have the compassion of Jesus to help them find a shepherd to lead them, feed them, and guide them to truth.

I hope so, but have to admit I need Jesus’ forgiveness for the many times I am more ready to blow people off than to connect them to their Good Shepherd.

Jesus couldn’t get to everyone.  He connected in relationship with the people he could…but then he prayed to his heavenly Father to provide more workers to bring in the harvest of people that was ready for truth, ready for hope, ready for a Good Shepherd.

Ironically, Matthew chapter 10 begins with listing the 12 disciples…they were the answer to his prayer.

So are you.  So am I.

The harvest of people is around us.  Pray that the Lord would use us. 

 

Apply: Today just notice people.  People driving around you, walking around you, working with you, living next to you, in class with you, etc.  Pray for the Lord to use you to build a relationship with one more person to be able to point them to their Good Shepherd, Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for a heart of compassion that was willing to engage with people to bring them to know you as their Savior.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on the Week 9 “Explore God” – Relationships that Matter! (WATCH HERE)

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Matthew 9:18 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. …

23 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.

 

This morning we continue our look at relationships Jesus affected in Matthew 9.  Matthew was  a tax collector…an outcast from society.  A woman who touched Jesus’ garment suffered from continuous bleeding and as a result was perpetually unclean.  When the woman touched Jesus he was on his way to help a synagogue leader.

Perhaps this connection may seem “normal.”  Jesus was a known rabbi and it would seem natural for a synagogue leader to reach out to him…perhaps for insight into the Scripture or to be a guest speaker at the synagogue gathering.  On this occasion the request was very personal.  His daughter had died.

As a dad of two daughters, I can’t even begin to imagine the heartache that this man was in.  I have to ask if I would have had the same confidence as this synagogue leader did to reach out and come before Jesus with the ask and confidence that if Jesus came and touched his daughter, she would live.  As a pastor, one often feels like they have to be the one to encourage, comfort and be there for others when there is a time of tragedy and loss.  But who is there to comfort the church leader when they experience a loss?  This man has the opportunity to go to Jesus.  Perhaps the relationship that needs Jesus is one who you think never does because they are always bringing Jesus to you.   But to be sure, even leaders in God’s church, need God’s people to check in and see how they can be supportive and encouraging.  God’s leaders need God’s people.

Jesus knew this and received the request of the synagogue leader.  To be sure, many of the religious leaders of the day were more skeptical of Jesus than receptive.  But this one is not.  He has confidence in the healing power of Jesus.  Jesus could have made a sweeping judgment on all those connected to the institution of the Jewish leadership at that time, but he doesn’t.  Again he sees a soul that is hurting and a soul that is needing him.  So he takes the time to step in and help.

Again a reminder in our relationships to not make sweeping judgments about a whole group of people and carry a bitterness toward all in that category.  Respond to individuals.  For in the group of the whole stand individuals who need Jesus.

When Jesus gets to the leader’s home, he finds the funeral mourners inside and out.  He doesn’t join them, but dismisses them.  They laugh when he comments the girl is sleeping.  But his words were backed by his powerful hand which grabbed the hand of the girl and she sat up…alive.  The impact spread throughout the region.

The Lord has not promised us the gift of physically raising people from the dead, yet the impact our witness of Jesus can have on one individual can have a ripple affect in a family or community like the raising of the synagogue’s leader’s daughter.  The way you engage with one relationship with the Gospel can have widespread and generational impact beyond the immediate.  Never underestimate the conversation you have, the care you show, or the time you take to build a relationship for Jesus.  The blessing can be far reaching.

 

Apply: Don’t worry about the reaction of the crowd should you witness to Jesus and his love.  The importance of a soul matters more than the reaction of a crowd!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your love and concern for all people.  Your mercy extends to all.  Your power impacts lives for eternity.  Your love affects the hearts of many.  AMEN.