Reading: 1 Peter
2: 11-25
“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires
of the flesh that wage war against the soul. ……When he was abused, he did not
return abuse; when he suffered he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to
the one who judges justly.”
“Beloved.” Is it harder to accept warnings or suggestions when we know
they come from a heart of love, or does it make the decisions to agree or
disagree more difficult?
These conditions do not change even if the actual methods change. And
there are so many more added to this list as history produces more and more
ways to exercise war: physically, emotionally, financially, politically,
mentally and spiritually.
“Wage war against the soul.” A different perspective. We are asked to
accept?
Accept the “authority of every
human institution,” the “authority of your masters with deference…but also to
those who are harsh.” Honor
everyone?
No retaliation—yet no compromise either. We are to live honorably,
doing good deeds, respecting the aliens and exiles, sharing our lives, becoming
a stark contrast to whatever strain of abuse and evil lives among us by using
different methods. Methods that will not break souls.
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for
you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.”
Lord, please keep us bound to you, heart to heart, soul to soul, Your
words to our walk. Build us into your foundation.
Psalm of Worship: Psalm 27: 9
“Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation.”
