ENOUGH

“For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do--living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.” 1 Peter 4:3

When we as followers of Christ experience the transforming power of salvation, we too often get stuck in the very early stages of discipleship and maturation. I know far too many believers who act more like unbelievers and far too many unbelievers who act more like believers. Our weakness and immorality is what fosters the rampant impression of hypocrisy that so often cripples our witness and credibility. I know we are not perfectly any means, but do we have to be so outwardly flawed? I know we are all “works in progress”, but far too many of us are “a real piece of work” more than we are making progress.

"WHEN WITNESSING"

“But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15b-16

Verse 15 of 1 Peter 3 encourages us to always have an answer for everyone when they ask about our faith. The end of 15 and all of verse 16 tells us how our attitude ought to be when we witness. I made a reminder list of what to do and not to do when witnessing. Since the verse addresses more specifically what to do and why, I will list what not to do and why not.

"REASONABLE ANSWERS"

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have.” 1 Peter 3:15a

This scripture suggests what seems like a daunting task to many. Not just new believers either. There is almost a general fear among believers about answering questions about their faith; particularly if it means quoting or referencing the Bible. I know our enemy, the devil, feeds this fear. What we do to protect ourselves from any possibility of embarrassment or failure or panic is to avoid any and all situations where we might be questioned or even have an opportunity to share our faith. Or, we have some weak, unsubstantiated, emotionally driven explanation that sounds like an apology at best. We, in essence, trip all over ourselves trying to appear more knowledgeable than we are, or we string together a series of excuses or self deprecating nonsense to survive the awkward moment.

Let me share one answer that we all can use until we get better at it and so we don’t have to freak out about it. Let’s answer the question, “Why do you have hope?” I have hope because Jesus paid the price for my sins on the cross. I needed a Savior and Jesus met my need. I have no hope outside of Him. God sent His Son, Jesus, to be our hope. I have trusted in Him and He answers my questions even when that answer is “no” or “wait” or “maybe”. I know He hears me and I know He will listen to you, too. Hope that this helps a little.

"EVERYTHING IS HIS"

"The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters." Psalms 24:1-2

He made everything out of nothing. It all belongs to Him: every space, all molecules, and what they do, every being, every animal, fish, and microbe.
From time to time, I need to sing a gospel song to make a point.

"Love, See, Keep, Turn, Do, Seek, Pursue"

For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:10-11

Sometimes it is convicting to focus on the verbs in a passage.

In 1 Peter 3:10-11 Peter is directly quoting Psalm 34. Both Peter and the Psalmist use some very simple verbs to suggest action as our response. Let me put the verbs in short phrases and respond. Hope this helps you take it in, it did me.

“THE LENTEN SEASON”

God said, “is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" Isaiah 58:6-7

I was not raised to observe Lent. However, as I have gotten older, I now see the importance of it. I had heard of people fasting by giving up a meal or a daily treat such as dessert or favorite beverage but I thought that was just a Catholic belief. As I read the passage from Isaiah I now see the need of not only giving up something but also giving something to someone else. A good example of this would be giving up a meal from your favorite restaurant and then taking that money and buying a meal for someone in need. Maybe we could skip a movie that we wanted to see and take that money and buy food or shelter for someone. Just think of how much good could be done over the next 40 days if every Christian would sacrifice something from themselves and then pass that on to someone in need. I always heard that if you did something for 40 days you would develop a habit that would be hard to break. Wow! Wouldn’t that be great to live like this every day? Maybe that is what God intended to happen by us observing Lent.

"Payback"

9 “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called to that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9

The surest way to receive a blessing is to be a blessing. God not only wants us to think right, He wants us to speak right and do right. It is wrong to return evil for evil, or insult for insult. I have heard it said that the misapplication of “an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth” world would be a blind, toothless world. If you cannot speak the truth in love, then do not speak. A growing attitude in our society fostered by so much “trash talk” is the notion that we posture and threaten when crossed, in anyway. Most often this retribution talk is to a third party. Such as, “If they ever do that again, I’ll hurt them, sue them, kill them, embarrass them, make them wish they were never born” kind of talk. We are just talking, but the vindictiveness of our language is over the top. We need to back down the reactionary rhetoric and deal directly with conflict or with an intermediary. Otherwise it just adds to wounds and delays healing.

"FORWARD WITH HOPE"

“One thing I do: Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal…” Philippians 3:13b – 14a

Recently, I have been greatly encouraged by a number of unrelated factors that have caused my hope to soar. I want to list seven things that are blessing my heart and lifting my spirit. Such good news!

"A Joesph Calling" TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by: Os Hillman

"And he sent a man before them - Joseph, sold as a slave." Psalm 105:17

God is doing a unique work around the world today. He is rising up Josephs throughout the world. Some are still in the "pit" stage of their pilgrimage, while others are heading toward fruitfulness. What does it take for a man to become a true Joseph? It takes years of preparation and testing to be a true Joseph. It takes what the psalmist says in Psalm 105:17. "He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; and he sent a man before them - Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true. The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free" (Psalm 105:16-20).

"THE WAY OF GOD"

Isaiah 26:3

As you may or may not know, I work here at Grace Harbor Church & School throughout the week in the School Office. I really enjoy the kids, the interactions with the parents, and especially the camaraderie with the wonderful staff that we have here at GH. Once a week, our third and fourth grade teacher Sherry Siu shares a morning devotion with the staff, and anyone who can attend is invited—Wednesday mornings in the prayer room at 8am! As I am covering the front office at the time, I am unable to attend, but Sherry faithfully brings me a copy of what was shared to keep me in the loop as a part of the team. This week’s devotion was based on the verse, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3). I thought this was an especially poignant verse for this time in our church and school. We have been experiencing a lot of growth and positive changes lately. In the midst of changes that happen in our lives however, whether they are good or bad changes, if we let them distract us from what (or who!) we should be truly focusing, we have given over to our human, earthly way of thinking. If we instead focus on what we can be learning through the changes, or how we can be helping, or what God could possibly be trying to show us, it would do us well. The devotion that Sherry shares is from Oswald Chambers, and one part especially stood out to me, in which he is talking about focusing our thoughts on God: “…Your mind will no longer be at the mercy of your impulsive thinking”. It takes a lot of discipline to keep our eyes steady of the path of righteousness, but it is worth it! This is the way of God, the way that brings peace in the midst of trying times. Keep at it my friends, and encourage others to do the same by fighting against peace destroyers, such as gossip. Instead, let’s lift each other up, lavish each other, be love to each other…after all, it IS Valentine’s this weekend after all, isn’t it? :)