Jesus

Under the Social Press

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Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.  1 Peter 4:1-2

The book of 1 Peter is full of Peter’s concern for Christians under pressure. The members of his churches were under social pressure generated by their choices to follow Jesus and abandon patterns of sin. The pressure produced temptation to abandon Jesus. So Peter encourages them to consider how Jesus suffered when he committed Himself to the will of God. We need to “arm” ourselves with His attitude so we can leans into the will of God. We must enlarge our view of God’s authority over all people and His judgment over all. He writes,

For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.  1 Peter 4:1-5

Isn’t it strange? Here’s how the social press works when it comes to the flood of debauchery, especially if you had been part of the “in” crowd. Non-participation is suspect. You become strange when you refuse to participate. You are judged and maligned.

But Peter reminds us we suffer with our Lord Jesus Christ and He is a greater judge. We live not for ourselves, but for Him who loves us.

Sit, Walk, Stand

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The book of Ephesians is divided by three actions. Each serves as a metaphor for important aspects of the Christian life.

Sit. You are seated with Jesus! At the core you know you are His because of His grace.

4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  Ephesians 2:4-7

Walk. You are walking with Jesus! Your calling to Jesus, profoundly rearranges your lifestyle, your character and your fellowship with Jesus’ church and others.

1I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  Ephesians 4:1-7

Stand. You are standing with Jesus! Following Jesus shifts you from being a passive victim of this world’s spiritual conflict to being an active participant in the Kingdom of God.

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Ephesians 6:10-13

Swallowed Up By Life!

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“For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.”  2 Corinthians 5:4-5

When we begin the journey with Jesus and receive His grace, the hope is that we are “all better” now. It doesn’t take long though, to realize we are not. The new reality of our forgiveness and new identity in Jesus Christ as His deeply loved child, is not completely apparent to others or ourselves.

For a new believer the disappointment can be devastating. The longing for growth into the character of Christ can be mistaken as despair under the barrage of Satan’s accusations.  The longing can be mistaken as a problem with God.

God is not done with us. The Holy Spirit Himself creates the longing to be like to Jesus. Now the Spirit is in conflict with the infectious decay of death. But we have this promise in Christ: our mortal lives will be swallowed up by life. Powerful language! We are looking forward to being  completely enveloped and engaged, as participants in the glorious life of Jesus Christ!

Do you care who sees you?

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5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.  Matthew 6:5-6

Most of our Origin crowd is so nervous about prayer! They are terrified to pray publicly. It ranks in the realm of public speaking and is one of their greatest fears. I hope this changes.

However, there is something dangerous that can happen to us as followers of Jesus even if we don’t like public praying. We can become more interested in appearing spiritual and worthy of people’s respect than in appearing before God with an open heart.

Jesus wants His followers to appear before our Heavenly Father privately and regularly with a deep desire to be seen and known by Him.

Develop the habit of your secret place and your conversation with our Heavenly Father. It’s worth it! “Our Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

 

 

Two Questions to Ask Yourself

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Dynamics of a life with God

8And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”  Genesis 3:8-9

After the Great Catastrophe Adam and Eve had to learn repentance and belief. It began with God asking a question, “Where are you?”

Two questions we ask when we sense God breaking into to our lives, when He is calling us to pay attention to something in us or in our world:

“What is God saying to me?

“What am I saying to God?”

Repentance and belief. The Apostle Paul expressed the dynamics of Gospel life as repentance and belief.

18And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:18-21

In repentance I have a confrontation with truth and grace, the realities of God. I have a choice to change my mind, attitudes, and actions.

In belief or faith I make adjustments to keep in step with Jesus.

What is God saying to you?

What are you saying to God?