The World is Watching and Listening

Peter continues to reveal to the beloved Christ followers how they can live, behave and react to those who live in a darkened world. Our walk with Christ begins in the home and moves on to those beyond to the entire world.

The home is the foundation and what is done there is revealed in how one lives in the church and in the marketplace. Family members must exhibit behavior that will turn the hearts of unbelievers to the Lord. Our walk and talk inside the home prepares us for our walk and talk outside the home. The home is where our lifestyle of harmony, sympathy, brotherly kindness, kindheartedness, humility, forgiveness and blessing will be noted by outsiders. The family is the preparation ground for how we are to answer anyone who asks about the hope we possess. And when and if we are accused and or slandered remember this principle: “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head.” [Rom 12:20] for in doing so we are following the principle found in the first chapter: Be ye holy as I am holy. That is the imperative that will win others to Him.

Today, is your home a sanctuary where you are living out a lifestyle that will turn the hearts of unbelievers? If they should ask why you live, behave and respond as you do what would be your answer?

Photo courtesy of truthforlife.org

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The Jesus Prayer

Recently our granddaughter returned from her 4^th year in SLU (Student Leadership University). When asked what one thing she took away from her week she gave this reply “May I walk so others see Christ in me and because of my walk they desire to follow Christ as I did.” Humbled and silenced. Is this our desire as well? As Paul closes out his letter to the Roman church in chapter 15, he offers once again this advice: be a people lover not a people pleaser through giving these precious Jewish/Gentile believers eight guidelines.

1. Those who are strong in the faith bear the burdens of the weak in the faith
2. Please others before we please ourselves following the example of Christ
3.  Know the OT which was written for our instruction
4. Be unified with one another
5. Receive one another just as Christ received you
6. Walk according to love
7. Be a servant as Christ was
8. Glorify and Praise God for His mercy

True unity demands sensitivity to one another. The world is watching and it desires peace and harmony; if there is one place they should find it; it is in the church. There they should see it in us and so desire to seek that same unified spirit. This can happen only in and through Christ. It might be good to look at two other passages as we strive for this goal.

The “Be-Attitude”: Matt 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.”

The Jesus Prayer: John 17:21 “that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me.”

Can we truly say that we are people lovers? It will show in our attitude, our actions, our prayers. Can we say that we desire that others see Christ in me and because of my love for others, my desire for unity that they will also seek to follow Christ? Is this our prayer today?