2019-10-25
Good Morning Dear Ones,
I’ve been commanded by the Holy Spirit to write more about marriage and friendships from 1 PET 2: 21-25 and 1 PET 3: 1-12. In today’s rude world, Christ’s example of unselfishness, lack of complaining amidst suffering, and general overall humility would be considered an extreme. Yet we learn in 1 PET 2: 21, we learn that His example was left for us, so that we would follow it. It’s a tough call in the face of insults, behind the back bad behavior, and even violence coming our way from others. We all know that even in marriages such bad behavior happens. One can shrug his shoulders and simply say, “it’s just the way things are.” Or, he can face the emotional and sometimes physical pain of enduring this behavior and refusing to act in kind. People who are devout followers of Jesus Christ will take the more difficult route. One other choice is to allow others, in litigation or counseling situations for example, to settle our differences or teach us to communicate more effectively. The USA is one of the most litigious societies ever. This sad truth speaks loudly about the lack of patience people have with each other. From where does that come? We are forever on our devices, texting instead of learning to speak effectively with one and another. A child reared in today’s society has a hard time learning to write, because writing is no longer the preferred way to communicate. The instantaneous answers to questions obtained on a computer have instilled impatience in finding them in other places. There is even more impatience with the tougher questions that may not have a simple answer. Our devices are used as a way to avoid instant responses of a phone call or face to face conversations.
Christ knew about tact and considered His audience before speaking. There were times, like the time He broke with Jewish tradition and spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well [JN 4: 1-28]. Jewish men were not supposed to speak with women alone or to those of other faiths. Christ never lied, sinned, or answered an insult with another insult. In order that we might “die to sin and live for righteousness” [1 PET 2: 24], He carried our sins in His body to the cross. “It is by His wounds that we are healed. We were like sheep that lost their way, but now have been brought back to follow the Shepherd and Keeper of our souls” [IS 53: 5-6; 1 PET 2: 25]. Christ’s suffering despite His innocence was on behalf of other people-us, who needed healing from sin’s horrific death-spiritual death and entrance forever to hell. If it surprises you that this message was already explained in the Isaiah passage which was written 300 years before Christ’s earthly incarnation began, it is only one example of the consistency of God’s messages throughout the Bible. This message was important enough for Him to repeat and attempt to explain to minds once riddled with sinful thoughts leading to sinful actions.
At present, most women feel they must put make-up on their faces before they can leave the house. How sad this is, because God has made their hair, complexion and eye color to be a perfect match. Without all the gels, ointments, creams etc., the pores of the skin kept clean would make for the real beauty that God built into it. Yet, most women and some men dye their hair and do other treatments to their bodies, because they are taught from their childhood to think they are ugly. Even gray hair is thought to be a liability. In other cultures, older people are respected for their years of experience living. Men claim they will be fired from their jobs if thought to be superannuated (older). They are partially right, because of the horrendous way people are judged and business is carried out. Real beauty for either sex comes from inside the soul. I’ve been blessed enough to have met people whose eyes shine with the light of Christ. It took me years of “unlearning” old negative messages about myself to come to the place where false treatments to change the Lynn that God made were seen for what they are. Some of these messages came from my parents and many came from mean-spirited children in the schoolyard and a very unfortunate first marriage. 1 PET 3: 1-7 covers all these notions.
We must examine suffering for doing right. Husbands and wives deserve to be treated by each other with respect. It’s been hard for some to learn this straight forward practice of Judeo-Christianity. To some degree the patriarchal society fostered by some churches or synagogues is at fault. While their roles in a marriage might be different, men and women are equal in the eyes of God. “Do not pay back evil with evil, curse for curse [1 PET 3: 9]. No lying, emotional abuse, or physical abuse will bring happiness. The Lord watches for righteousness and listens to every prayer offered.” I’m living proof of this; one only need look at the details of my lengthy life. Those who have done evil to me are no longer with us. God has adjudicated their cases! [PS 34: 12-22; 1 PET 3: 8-12]. They will be forgotten. Can you say that you have a way to see into a person’s soul? Yes, those who live with righteousness (don’t confuse this with self-righteousness) make it easy. Those who who live with duplicity or who are truly meanspirited and evil may make it hard at first, but they too can be seen over time for what they are. My pet peeve is people who appear to be kind and good but have a hidden ulterior motive that is evil. Their evil speaks louder than their good. We’ve covered a lot, yet only scratched the surface of human interactions. Remember: MT 5: 3-11, the Beatitudes. If you don’t remember them, please read them over.
PRAYER: O Lord, You have told us that “the meek shall inherit the earth.” Until we began to investigate this subject in the context of human behavior, we didn’t truly understand what this truth entails. Our Lord Jesus gave an example of what meekness really is. He kept from spreading evil, watches over the righteous, opposes those who do serially do evil, listens to our prayerful cries for help, remains near to us who are discouraged, gives us hope, and saves the righteous. He did all in the face of suffering and dying on the cross for us. The net result is that the evil will be forgotten, and the righteous will be remembered long after their physical deaths for who they were and the deeds they did. When it becomes the time for one’s glorification after an earthly life of doing good deeds and a valiant struggle to remain righteous amid trials and temptations, a good person establishes a legacy that will be remembered for generations to come. The strength, faith, and wisdom to be righteous are gifts given to good people by You and You alone. All You are and do is in the best eternal interests of the ones who love You. Your nearness to them and willingness to intervene when needed in their lives are acts of Your choice for them. That is how much You love us. We offer You praise, thanks, loyalty, honor, and our forever love, in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I am commanded by the Holy Spirit to write about MT 5: 11-12 from the Beatitudes, reverence, and responsibilities of family members. Over the years I have personally dealt with different kinds of people within my own family. Next week I will, without naming names, will compare God’s will for us in these areas with the ways they were carried out by these many human sinners. Yes, each of us is still capable of sin. It won’t be till the Father decides if and when one will be glorified (brought by Him to dwell in heaven eternally) that we will know how each case is adjudicated by Him. We can’t and shouldn’t judge this while still on earth, but we will know if and when we are all in heaven, reunited with all the good people there, who have gone before us. For the faithful in our Lord, can eagerly anticipate the best of what the Father has waiting for us. Praise, glory, and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2019. All Rights Reserved.
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