Seeking Good Times

 

Seeking Good Times

1 Peter 3: ⁸ To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another, and be kind and humble with one another. ⁹ Do not pay back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay back with a blessing, because a blessing is what God promised to give you when he called you. ¹⁰ As the scripture says,

“If you want to enjoy life
    and wish to see good times,
    you must keep from speaking evil
    and stop telling lies.
¹¹ You must turn away from evil and do good;
    you must strive for peace with all your heart.
¹² For the Lord watches over the righteous
    and listens to their prayers;
    but he opposes those who do evil.”

 

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Wanting a better assignment, I lied about my age. I said I was two years older than I was so that maybe my years of experience would seem like more than they were. I was still considered a rookie and I wanted to shake that perception.

 

• I lied to get ahead.
• I didn’t consider my lie as harmful.
• I showed my immaturity when I argued, fussed and fought instead of being above negative conversations.

 

Peter continues to provide some difficult lessons. He knew there would be some who would do evil to those who did good. His advice was to be above evil by paying back with good. He also used a Psalm from David to change the mindset. “Keep from speaking evil.”

 

My Observations

• Striving for “good times” must include me telling the truth.
• For me to “enjoy life” I must be able to rest, which means telling the truth.
• Doing “good” and striving for “peace” gives me the makings for a life filled with good times.

 

Evil, brings on more evil. I mean, when someone does or says something bad to me or about me, I want to retaliate. I get my argument ready and maybe even think of ways to tear “that” person down. BUT GOD wants me to act different.

 

HE wants me above petty arguments to focus on HIM. HE wants “good” and “peace” to flow from me. This means I have to make a decision. I have to slow down, step away from the evil and speak the truth in live when the time is right. I am glad GOD gives me courage to speak truth.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer mention “pay back?”
• Have you ever been provoked by an evil attack and wanted to retaliate?
• Will you take the high road next time and seek “good times” by doing good in GOD’s sight today?

Courage for Truth

 

Courage for Truth

Acts 21: ²⁷ When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, ²⁸ shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” ²⁹ (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

 

³⁰ The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. ³¹ While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. ³² He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

 

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Feeling pressured and not wanting to get in trouble, I thought of a “story” to cover myself. I had broken the bottom window of the door by losing my grip on my bike. Something popped in my head. I could blame the kid from two doors over. I mean, he “could” throw things, right? So what if he was in his wheelchair and wasn’t outside and the bushes would have not made it possible.

 

There were times when I was determined to cover myself.

There were times when I was too scared to even admit wrong to myself.

There were times when I felt it was easier to lie rather than facing the consequences of my actions.

 

Some Jews recognized Paul and immediately thought of lies. They grabbed him and told the crowd that Paul, singlehandedly, told “everyone” “everywhere” to not follow the Jewish law that he upheld. They also supposed he brought a Gentile into a Jewish temple. They stirred the crowd to beat Paul because of their lies.

 

GOD wants me to be courageous enough to tell the truth.

GOD wants me to be in the practice of admitting my sin so when someone confronts me, it won’t sting as much.

GOD wants me to invite people to GOD rather than excluding them to one race.

 

Believing in “a” truth is dangerous. I mean I can convince myself of anything regardless of the overwhelming evidence. GOD has provided overwhelming evidence of HIS love for humanity through HIS SON JESUS. HE chose to die for my sins and for that I am truly grateful!

 

What lies are you telling yourself or others?

When will you grow up to stop lying to show you are superior or “right?”

If you are courageous enough to lie to others and yourself, will you add to your courage by dropping your lies and telling people about “the” truth of JESUS being the only Savior today?

Shared Memories

Shared Memories

John 5: ³¹ “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. ³² There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. ³³ You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. ³⁴ Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. ³⁵ He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. ³⁶ But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

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Hearing the stories of everyone’s adventures made me feel a bit insecure about my meager summer. I mean the most adventurous thing I had done was to ride my bike more than three blocks away from my house. “Maybe I should make something up to tell people” I thought to myself.

• There were times when I wanted to feel special.
• There were times when I wanted to be the center of attention.
• There were times when I was willing to make up stories so I would be seen as special.

JESUS explains the need for a truthful witness to prove whatever is said and done is true. Since humans could understand the testimony of another human, JESUS uses John the Baptist as HIS example of a person who testified that HE was and is the Messiah. BUT JESUS did not need John’s testimony.

• JESUS says to me “I AM the one who saves the world.”
• JESUS tells me “I AM sent by the FATHER who has given ME all authority.”
• JESUS reveals to me by saying “I AM the one who has given you the HOLY SPIRIT who will comfort you, guide you and beg for you when you are sinning.”

Truth comes from witnesses, otherwise a person could make up a story that cannot be substantiated. While JESUS needs no witnesses, HE revealed to the world HIS power in front of thousands of people. HE was sent by the FATHER and the HOLY SPIRIT agreed in HIS voluntary death sentence. I am grateful the two witnesses agreed on HIS mission to save the me.

• Do you seek attention?
• Do you make up stories in order to make others see you as something special?
• Will you focus your stories on what GOD is doing, in your life and others, so many people will be saved through the words GOD gives you?

Words Pave Roads

Words Pave Roads

John 4: ³⁹ Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” ⁴⁰ So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. ⁴¹ And because of his words many more became believers.

⁴² They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

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“You can do it!” screamed my teammates as I attempted to pass an opponent in a track meet. My body didn’t feel like it at first. I was saying to myself “I’m tired” but their words encouraged me to keep running. I passed the person and came in 8^th place!

• When I listen to negative words I feel like giving up.
• When I listen to negative words I feel like I cannot do anything or be anything or see anything.
• When I listen to negative words I put on a negative face and tell others negative words.

Excitement filled the streets of Samaria as the woman told everyone about JESUS. “HE told me everything I ever did” she said, not leaving any sin out. She used her sin as an encouragement, no longer feeling shame. The town responded, “We know this man is the Savior of the world.”

• GOD wants me to speak words of HIS encouragement.
• GOD wants me to speak words of HIS power.
• GOD wants me to speak words of HIS love.

Telling people “You can do it” does have temporary results, until they face a GOD sized problem that seems so overwhelming that no solution can be had. BUT GOD tells me to say something different. HE tell me to say “You can do anything when you are connected to GOD’s power who is the one who gives strength.”

Words are too powerful to waste. I can speak negatively all day or I can tell people of how much GOD loves them, protects them and desires the best for them. I am glad I heard the right words to put me on GOD’s path.

• Are you saying negative words more than encouraging words?
• Do you see what is wrong more than you see what is right?
• Will you listen to the HOLY SPIRIT today and allow HIM to transform your words into those of GOD’s kingdom?
• Will you hear that you are special to GOD and HE loves you?

Addressing Racism

Luke 9: ⁵¹ Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, ⁵² and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. ⁵³ But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”

⁵⁵ But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. ⁵⁶ For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.

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While walking back to my dorm room a guy stuck his head out of his room and cried out “Hey (racial slur)!” This infuriated me! I not only wanted to fight, but from then on I called him “(racial slur)”. The fight for “justice” was on!

• There were times when I was enraged by others who treated me poorly because of my race.
• There were times when I was filled with rage when I perceived people not accepting me because of my race.
• There were times when I refused to serve anyone who was not in my race and I labeled “them” as being racist.

JESUS was rejected and not allowed to stay in an entire village because of HIS race. The Samaritans, who had been looked down upon by the Jews, saw an opportunity to give a little “justice” and sent JESUS and HIS friends away. When James and John saw they could not reason with hatred they asked JESUS “Should we have them killed?” JESUS had another plan.

• GOD wants me to love those who hate me.
• GOD wants me to stay focused on HIS kingdom rather than focusing on the many sins of humans.
• GOD wants me to examine my hatred towards others daily and to give it to HIM so HIS love may win them over to the kingdom.

Forgiveness of other races did not start with a few select humans in history rather it was started by GOD. JESUS was hated by HIS own creation simply because HE loved them. No matter what HE did or how hard HE tried, HIS owns creation blamed HIM for every problem. HE received no rest.

JESUS wants me to recognize the need for GOD rather than seeing yet another sinful act of a human.  Since HIS wish is not to send humans to hell, I should never wish someone there. GOD is the only one who can turn my furious hatred into genuine love for others. HIS love creates fruit for HIS kingdom through me.

• Do you see actions around you that can be labeled “micro-aggressive?”
• Do you perceive unfair treatment because of who you are?
• Will you pray for your rage to subside and for HIS love to enter you and those who are the aggressors?
• Will you ask for courage to treat the multitudes with love in spite of how they treat you?

Shining Light on the Subject

Mark 4: ²¹ Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? ²² For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

²⁴ Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. ²⁵ For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

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“Ooo… I’m telling” were the words I dreaded to hear. It meant that I was caught in the act and this person was going straight to the top, namely the teacher or the parents. “Wait, don’t tell!” were my begging words. “I could get in trouble.” They told and I got in trouble.

• Sometimes I try to hide my sins.
• Sometimes I try to pretend I am good when I really am a sinner.
• Sometimes I want to keep my sins to myself and let others think more highly of me.

My sins had come into the light and I received the consequence for them, but what about the person who told on me? I mean, they just wanted to get me in trouble so they could gloat. GOD has an answer for that.

• JESUS says to me “With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
• JESUS says to me “Judge not lest you be judged.”
• JESUS says to me “Pray for your enemies.”

All of my sins will be brought into the light, so it is better for “me” to bring them into the light than for GOD to do it. By confessing my sins, I realize they actually do not have power over me. This enables me to have a tiny amount of grace that understands why others may hide their sins.

GOD wants me to be extremely careful when shining light on someone else’s sins. Instead of saying “This person has sinned” I can say “We have similar sins” this way GOD is placed as the judge and I am not the accuser rather I am an advocate for forgiveness.

• Are you hiding your relationship with GOD from others?
• Are you hiding sin so you can look good in front of the crowd?
• When you “tell on someone” do you desire to feel superior to “that” person?
• Can you stop talking about others so GOD will stop taking even what little you have from you?

Spinning the Spinners

Mark 4: ¹⁰ But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. ¹¹ And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, ¹² so that

‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,
And hearing they may hear and not understand;
Lest they should turn,
And their sins be forgiven them.’”

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In an effort to make the situation better, my bosses told me to “Update the message to make it more palatable.” In other words they wanted me to put “spin” on the message. Instead of saying “This flat out does not work” they suggested “At this time, certain features are being reviewed.” I wonder if I try to “spin” the explanation of JESUS.

• There were times when I used “spin” to make the story easier.
• There were times when I used a more palatable story to explain things.
• There were times when I would take a lie and try to spin it to “a” truth that was close enough.

JESUS saw through the hearts of those who would never believe in HIM. HE spoke in parables because speaking in direct terms to someone who would never believe in HIM would be a waste of HIS time. HE wants me to believe in HIM whether HE speaks directly or indirectly to me.

• JESUS speaks to me through written history and letters compiled in a Bible.
• JESUS speaks to me through humans who speak highly of HIM.
• JESUS speaks to me through circumstances that only HE can orchestrate.

Amazement can happen on a daily basis if I allow it. I mean I could walk out my door and be absolutely amazed if I were to open my eyes and ears to what GOD is doing. Unfortunately the worries of the world blind me at times to the amazing things around me. GOD says “Relax. Let ME guide you with MY plan.” When I allow HIM to be GOD I can truly “perceive” and “understand.”

• Are you confused about something?
• Do you have a very specific answer for your problem that you are not getting no matter how hard you try?
• Will you open your eyes and ears to GOD so you can see what HE is doing in your life today?