The works of His hands are truth and justice;
All His precepts are sure.
They are upheld forever and ever;
They are performed in truth and uprightness.
He has sent redemption to His people;
He has ordained His covenant forever;
Holy and awesome is His name.
Psalm 111:7-9
What a wonderful description of God's care for us.
And, we are thankful for His mercy and love.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it men of old gained approval. …
By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.
Hebrews 11:1-2, 31
When we are jumping to judge people, we need to consider that we do not judge as God judges. God sees the hearts of men and women.
Rahab was a prostitute living in Jericho. She knew God parted the Red Sea and delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and she believed that He was the True God. When two Israelite spies ask Rahab to help them and promised her that she and her family would be safe when Jericho was overrun by the Israelites, she trusted them.
The spies escaped from Jericho, and when the City was destroyed by the Israelites, only Rahab and her family were saved. Of all the people God could have saved, He saved Rahab, not because of her personal merits, but because she had faith in Him as the One True God. (Joshua 2)
That is the way it is with God, no one is saved because they are good, they are saved by faith in God and His Son, Jesus.
And, so it is with us, also.
But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be trouble, but sanctify Christ the Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior will be put to shame.
1 Peter 3:14-16
Sometimes we suffer for our righteousness. While we are busy doing the right thing, others are busy trying to vandalize our actions.
Peter tells us not to fear intimidation, but to be ready to defend our actions and the hope that is in us. We are not to jump up and down and swear and scream, but to respond with gentleness and reverence so that those who seek to destroy us are humiliated by their own bad behavior.
Our good works speak louder than the actions of our critics.
Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11
Paul’s encouragement still applies today. We all want to live in peace. How do we do it?
We can become more resilient by changing our attitude about how we respond to life’s little aggravations. Getting into a frame of mind where we can say “So what,” when little things go wrong, can change our whole outlook on life. It might not be easy at first, but given a little time the habit of letting the small stuff slide, becomes easier. And, we will find a more peaceful existence.
So, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:1-8
It was not too many years ago that the media and even some mainline Christian church leaders tried to dismiss talk about being born again as being too simple and indicated that an intellectualized faith was the right way to approach Christianity.
While intellectualized faith fosters much good doing, it can miss the heart of the Gospel, that being that Jesus calls on each of us to have a personal relationship with Him, which begins with making a personal commitment to Him. This personal commitment contains an element of recognizing that we can do better and confessing and repenting of our sin. This is a spiritual experience or, as Jesus said, it is like being born again.
Being born again is not just Evangelical lingo; it is the foundation upon which our salvation is built. It is the key to the kingdom of God.
Jesus calls us to come to Him, to repent, to be forgiven and to be born again.
To those who are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.
Jude 2-3
If you know someone whose life is in turmoil, these are the perfect words of comfort. We cannot solve their problems, but we can offer the salve of mercy, peace and love.
And, maybe we can buy them a coffee and sit with them. It is when we give our time to be with those who are hurting, that they can see the love of God. We come seeking nothing, but giving mercy, peace and love.
Let us be open to opportunities to share God's love.
