Good morning.
Life has a way of evening things out, even if over the course of a thousand years. Then there are those who look to take vengeance or force change in the narrative, citing the law of reciprocity. Again and again we see in the Scriptures that Jesus did a really good job at keeping his followers focused on the task at hand: to bring the break in of the Kingdom whose evident work is in the world but not of it. It’s been said that a great leader is one who is not moved by circumstance. They have their feet planted firmly on the rock who is Jesus.
What does the world need right now?
Let me suggest, it’s people who stay focused on character change.
After walking with Jesus for three years, and going through a tragic end, all the way to a new beginning, in his second letter to the churches he writes confidently:
The following ought to be a goal of every Christian:
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires (2 Peter 1:3-4).
Escape the world’s corruption (caused by human desires) by sharing in Jesus’ divine nature. And, to do this requires daily action steps in adopting a rule of life.
This is more than an exercise routine, although that can/should be a part of it! Paul encouraged the young Timothy that physical exercise has value, while Spiritual disciplines are of higher value. We are certainly living in a twisted world where truth is harder to reveal; life is complicated. And, we need to keep thinking and searching, but I’m more and more convinced that the best play is exactly what Peter is advocating here which I would sum up as this:
God has given us His one and only Son; He has given us everything we need to grow in faith and follow the more excellent way which is a character that is blameless. The Spirit helps us to do that.
I’m excited to be with you this coming weekend for the Sunday Service and Men’s Fellowship/Women’s Ministry luncheons that will follow. Joe and the team will facilitate worship, and then I’ll be sharing in the With-God Life Sermon Series. I pray that God’s presence would rest on all of us.
Prayers for each of you, as you navigate the path,
Seth
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