Suffering As Jesus Follower

Because of the presence of sin in the world, there is suffering. Some suffering comes from one's own sin. Prison, addiction, and disease are some results of a person's sin. There is suffering that comes from these results.

But suffering can come from other people. There was a lot of talk about bullies recently. Some children were being picked on by bullies at school. One set of children were suffering, because of the attitudes and actions of other children.

Suffering could be a result of being different. At one point in this country, one type of person enslaved another type of person, because of differences, and economic gain.

Generally, when people suffer, it is something we should be sad about. But Peter points out one exception. If a person suffers, is bullied, because of being a follower of Jesus, it is something to be glad about.

Peter makes an assumption. The person, who is a follower of Jesus, who is being bullied, or persecuted, is living in such a way that demonstrates Jesus' character. If people can see Jesus in your life, and Jesus is being broadcast to the world, and you suffer as a result, rejoice that God is working in you, and through you, and people are against you, because you are more loving, more generous, more peaceful, and joyful. God's work in your life is a good thing.

If we respond in anger, cursing, and other fleshly actions, God's character is not moving in us. Not something to rejoice in.

Godly Interruptions

In the beginning of Luke, God sends the angel Gabriel to two different people -- Mary and Zechariah -- to announce that a baby -- Jesus and John -- was coming to their respective families.

And Zechariah and Mary had the same response: "How can this be?"

In Mary's case, Gabriel calmly answered Mary's question. In Zechariah's case, Gabriel was a little irritated. Zechariah should have believed and accepted what Gabriel said.

What was the difference? Mary pointed out that she was a virgin. A virgin, getting pregnant was without the involvement of a man, has never happened. This was the first time.

In contrast, Zechariah should have been very familiar with an old couple, with a history of fertility issues, having a baby. Abraham and Sarah having a baby, Isaac, was a very famous story in Israeli history. Zechariah should have been very confident that God could do something that he had already done.

We, of course, are often the same. "This person needs a miraculous healing. But these circumstances are totally unique in history. So, God cannot do anything in this case."

"God needs to move in a miraculous way to restore a correct respect, and love, for him and people. But the attitudes, perspectives, and lifestyles, are so turned away from God, that it is never going to happen."

There are numerous examples of healing in their faith, and love, Old Testament, New Testament, and secular history.

There are numerous examples of God revolutionizing culture, in a good way, in the Old Testament, New Testament, and secular history.

God is totally able, and totally ready, to launch a 500 megaton nuclear explosion of his Spirit. It is, maybe, his family that is hindering it by their lack of love, and lack of faith. 

Zechariah was rebuked because of his lack of faith. We need to behave in ways -- prayer, evangelism, and, maybe, prophetic acts -- that agree with God's ability to move.

It was God's love that motivated him to move on our behalf by sending Jesus to create a bridge back to God. He demonstrated that love by going to the Cross.

We are called to love mankind also. We may not do it in the same way. We maybe will be engaged in prayer, in evangelism, in ensuring justice, and providing for others in service and generosity.

God has chosen to interrupt the course of history a number of times in the past. We need to be his partners by preparing for future interruptions, and living in faith, and love, as demonstrations of who God is, and who we are created to be.

What is Bad Comes From Rejecting God's Way

We tend to assume that we are experiencing God's favor, if circumstances are favorable. But there are a number of places in Scripture that say circumstances are not necessarily in indication of God's favor.

Peter writes to a group of people who are experiencing bad times. He reminds them that God does not necessarily display his favor in circumstances. Sometimes life is good. Sometimes life is bad.

But God does always share what he thinks of people in Jesus. Everyone is, at one time, God's enemy. We say we do not need him; we say we do not want a relationship with him; and we do not want him in our lives. He is King of creation, and we do not accept him as King. We may strive to be moral, and accepting of people, but this rejection of the King leads to the worst of circumstances.

But Jesus came to re-establish peace with God, and relationship with God. Jesus did this by his death. He was punished in our place, for our rejection.

There is wrong in the world. And it is derived from this rejection of God. Even though God told people what was the best for the world, people either ignored what God said, or decided they knew better, and chose that. In either case, the world now has a type of pollution, which produces what is bad.

No matter how bad today is, we can be confident, and grateful, for tomorrow, and eternity. Because God wants to make eternity good. For those who believe Jesus' death deals with all our bad stuff, and trusts God to act in agreement with Jesus, for our best. we can begin to experience the peace and joy God wants to give all people.

God loves mankind. And he wants to know, and to bless, mankind. It is people's response, saying "no" to God, that blocks this good.

Effective Prayer

In his letter, James encourages prayer. Not just prayer, but effective prayer.

He addresses two issues that block prayer. The first is sin. We all experience the presence of sin, and failure to keep God's word. No one will be perfect in this life. The issue comes when we hang onto sin. Sin causes a breakdown in our relationship with God. His heart is still for us. But sin blocks God from expressing his love to us, and four us. If we turn from sin, are honest with wrong we commit, and turn our hearts back to God, he turns his heart back to us.

And if we lean into him with faith, God's heart is to respond t faith. The example James uses is Elijah praying for rain. Because of the wickedness of the king, Elijah prays for no rain. And it stops raining for several years. Then, he prays for rain, and there is a deluge. There is a lot of confusion about God's timing, especially as we see God sometimes respond immediately, and sometimes respond after a long time.

There is a story about a man, who prayed for the salvation of his friends. While he was alive, none of his friends chose to follow Jesus. Then, he died, and all of his friends decided to follow Jesus.

God always responds in his wisdom. God always responds with a heart of love. Our part is to keep trusting, keep praying, and remain patient.

Love Never Fails

This is the last characteristic in this list.

"Fail" in the original language comes from a word meaning to "fall." As in, it cannot stand anymore. I think the idea in both the original, and English, is pretty much the same. Love always works.

Love has the power to bring peace between enemies; to assure people of their worth, and value; to meet all kinds of needs. It attacks poverty. It attacks discrimination. It brings peace. It changes hearts.

Love Bears All, Believes All, Hopes All, and Endures All

When I started this, I had the feeling that these were four attitudes that were sort of associated. So, it seemed better to write one post for the four of them. I am now wondering if that is correct, but I am going to leave the post as is.

Bears All

The picture in the original language is protecting, or keeping, by covering. It acts as a roof over another person.

Love seeks the best for another person by coming along side them as they deal with issues, and gives support.

Believes All

The picture here is similar to English. It refers to being persuaded, or giving credit, to something. But it moves from there to placing confidence in what you are persuaded of.

Love seeks the best for another person by having a positive attitude about them. It has a realistic perspective, but it does not abandon them for their failures. It is committed to their progress, and well-bing. 

Hopes All

Here the picture is a favorable, confident expectation. It is not like the English which has a "maybe" component.

Love seeks the best for another person by always expecting the best from others. Again, it is realistic, but it does not give up, or abandon others. It does not project failure onto others.

Endures All

The picture given here is someone abiding, or bearing, negative issues calmly, and bravely. It is similar to the English patience. They both describe attitudes of peace, and calmness, when facing negative situations.

When considering love, negative input usually comes from other people. So, love seeks the best for others by not giving up, not blowing up, but continuing in peace, and serenity. Losing one temper is not a result of love. Abandoning someone is not a result of love.

Each of these characteristics express love by seeking the best for people, and seeking the best in people, and holding on when the worst in people appears.

Love Does Not Rejoice In Evil, But Rejoices With The Truth

Here we have another two sides of one coin.

One of the premises of the Bible is that God designed, and created, the world. He designed the physical. He designed the spiritual. He designed people. And part of the design is a lifestyle that agrees with God's heart.

He designed it like a road. People can walk in the center, on the right side, or on the left side. This gives cultures flexibility to function differently. But it also gives a definite right and wrong. Right means staying on the road. Wrong means getting off the road.

If we walk on the road, we live in agreement with God's heart. And if we live in agreement with his heart, we live in line with God's intended meaning, and value, for creation.

Because of the presence of sin, no one stays on the road 100% of the time. Some stay on the road more than others. But everyone gets a traffic citation, and we cannot pay the fine. Thankfully Jesus paid the fine for us.

Love seeks the best for others by striving to stay on the road. Love also desires the best for others. Love does not rejoice when someone else gets a traffic citation. It is not the best for them. It is not the best for ones they interact with. Love does rejoice when someone returns to the road. Even if it is only one tire. When someone agrees with God's heart, he agrees with the design of creation, and he lives more in the way of peace, and joy.

Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs

People do wrong things. Even followers of Jesus. Since, God says he will transform his follower's hearts. So, he will also transform all words, and actions, because they come from the heart. So, hopefully, they are becoming producers of more love, and less wrong. But there will always be wrong in this world. So, the question is: what do we do with the wrong? Especially wrong directed at us?

Jesus came into the world, and died on a cross. Now, all just condemnation of wrong has the potential to be forgiven. People receive forgiveness by agreeing with God -- they have committed wrongs, and Jesus' death covers the punishment for those wrongs -- and returning to the correct relationship with him -- he is our Father, so he is the one with ultimate authority over our lives.

There is a section in the Bible, where God tells one of his messengers to let people know that he will forgive our wrongs, and he will not remember them. 

The God who knows everything will not know ab out our sin?

God cannot un-know things. Just like we cannot erase a memory of a wrong done to us. Be he can ignore those things, and treat us as if they never happened. And love seeks the best for people by also ignoring any wrongs done, and treating people as if they did not exist. This is what forgiveness is about. There can be no peace at any level, if people hang onto the past.

Love does the best for people by giving freedom from the past, and room to move into the future.

During World War II, Corrie Ten Boom and her family were put into a concentration camp for helping Jews living in the Netherlands. Everyone in her family died in the camp. After the war, at an event, a man, who was a guard in the camp, came and asked for her forgiveness. After a short struggle, because of all the bad memories, she forgave the man. She gave the two of them new freedom.

Love is Not Irritable

Being "not irritable" or "not easily angered" is similar to being patient. The word in the original language means: to sharpen, to stimulate to anger, or to provoke.

So, love is not sharpened, is not stimulated to anger, or is not provoked. In difficult situations, love is expressed by remaining calm, and focusing on a solution for any interpersonal problems. And focusing on the value of the person standing in front of you. Being provoked to anger means a person is a focusing on injury, or insult. Love focuses on remaining calm to promote understanding, peace between people, with perhaps a temporary suspension of one's image, or rights. 

Love is Not Self-Seeking

Self-seeking is description of someone, only being concerned with his wants, desires, or needs. Self-serving, or selfish, could be other ways of expressing this idea.

Some self-focus is necessary. We do need to be concerned for our health. We do need to feed ourselves. But, there is a tipping point. Too much self-focus, and we lose sight of others' needs, and how we can be a solution to their problems.

Love seeks the best of others by being alert to other people, their needs, and how those needs can be met. And also surrendering time, energy, and, maybe, resources to meet those needs.

Love is Not Rude

I think most people understand rudeness as acting in a discourteous, or insulting, manner. All cultures have ways for people to interact with one another that communicate:

    - You are a person.

    - You have worth in society.

    - You have a right to be here, to live, and to enjoy life.

Cultures develop these modes of communication, so that every day interactions can be completed smoothly, and peacefully.

There are a number of ways rudeness can be acted out. Speaking boastfully, or arrogantly, for example. Disregarding the presence of another person is another.

Common courtesy seeks another person's best by giving honor to other people in everyday actions. For a follower of Jesus, it demonstrates that God sees you, God knows you, and you have worth in his sight. And we give the world a simple demonstration that we agree with God.  

Love Does Not Boast; Love Is Not Arrogant

I am going to include two characteristics in this post, because I think they are two sides of the same coin.

Boasting is excessively, and ostentatiously, talking about, and stressing, one's accomplishments of possessions. Boasting is a call for people's attention. It is expressing why the boaster is higher and better.

Being arrogant is having an inflated view of one's self. It is one person regarding himself as higher, superior, and more important. And if that person is superior, and more important, then the other people are not.

Boasting puts one's self above others. Arrogance puts others below one's self.

Love is not boastful, or arrogant. Love does not put self above, or others below. Love holds others on the same level. Love treats others equally. Love regards others as equally important, and equally necessary.

Love Does Not Envy

Envy is an intense discontent, or resentment, concerning the possessions, or qualities, of another person. For example, one person sees another, who intelligent, or pretty, or has a Mercedes, or a particular group of friends. Seeing this arouses irritation, feelings of discontent, dislike, or irritation with the other person. And negative emotions generally produce negative behavior. For example, he could begin to speak about the other person in a negative, belittling, or insulting way.

But love is not envious. It sees the other person with desirable qualities, or possessions, and, at the very least, it does not raise any intense feelings. It does not cause discontent, dislike, or irritation. 

And, maybe, to formulate it in a positive way, love might generate gratitude on the other person's behalf.

"Gee! It would be pretty cool to have a car like John's. But I am really glad he has one. I am thankful for his good fortune."

Love is Kind

Kindness is another concept that is a little different in English and the original language of the Bible.

In English, it seems like kindness has the connotation of being friendly, warm-hearted, and sympathetic. Although, there is the idea of "acts of kindness."

In the original Biblical language, kindness refers to someone having a heart to promote someone else's good, prosperity, or happiness, in a concrete way. It seems to focus more on service, or practical benefit.

So, kindness seeks another person's best by practical acts of service, or generosity. It surrenders time, energy, and resources for another person's good.

Love is Patient

The first quality on the list of love characteristics is patience. Patience in English is: the ability to wait calmly, and without complaint, amidst negative circumstances. Patience in the original language paints a slightly different picture.

Patience in this case is a compound word. The first part means long. The second part is a picture of the center, or hub, of energy. It can be translated as patience, forbearance, or long-suffering. It is trying to paint a picture of restraint in the face of provocation.

One way of looking at it: it is the opposite of having a short fuze. Having a short fuze is an English idiom, that indicates a person's tendency to get angry quickly when faced with any negative input. So, someone, who is patient, has a long fuze ... a very long fuze.

Patience seeks another person's best by not adding fuel to the fire. Anger tends to stir up more anger. Which will not solve any interpersonal problem. Patience is a mindset that values solving any issue, because the person is valuable, and the relationship with him is valuable.

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God's Priorities

Jesus was talking with a group of people, and someone asked him what was the most important commandment. Jesus quoted a part of the Bible that said we should love God. That was command #1. And command #2 was to love people.

How does one love God? After all, it's not like we can give him a birthday present, or treat him to dinner.

At the Last Supper, Jesus shared with his disciples that we show God love when we keep his commandments. So, in order to keep command #1, we need to keep command #2.

There are a lot of people who call followers of Jesus hypocrites. Many, because we say we are supposed to love people, but we do not. And this is partly true. As followers of Jesus, if we are honest, we know that we continue to sin, because sin is still present in our lives. We are forgiven, but not yet perfected. So, we do not always follow Jesus as we should. 

But, I think we could argue that, because of sin, not one single individual maintains their standard of right and wrong. So, everyone on the planet says one thing and does another. So, everyone on the planet is a hypocrite. 

Just as there are some people who are more moral than others, there are some people who are less hypocritical than others. But everyone has a moral standard, and everyone breaks it at some point. Which ー someone acting contrary to their beliefs ー is the definition of hypocrisy, as I understand it.

Another part is how one defines love. One loves one's spouse, or partner. One loves members of one's family. And one loves pizza. These are all loves, but these are all different from one another.

Scripture recognizes multiple kinds of love: between spouse/partner, between friends, between parents and children, and one that should be expressed to neighbors, strangers, and enemies. In other words, everyone!

Scripture does not give a definition for this love. But it does give a list of characteristics that the author (Paul, in this case) intends to paint a picture of what this love looks like. I am intending to do a series of short posts to examine each of these characteristics. I am hoping to increase our understanding of love, and, maybe, I can grow in loving people better.

The Way Into The Most Holy Place

 As Israel was escaping from Egypt, and returning to Canaan, God gave instructions for building the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was intended to be a connection between Israel and God. It was also intended to be a picture of that connection.

There were areas, and artifacts, that were used to cleanse Israel from wrongs they committed. And there was one place that the presence of God resided. No one could enter that area, because each person's sin cut him off from God's presence. God was with his people, but sin prevented a close relationship.

Once a year, the high priest would enter that special place, after intense preparation, to offer a sacrifice of a perfect lamb -- one without blemish. The sins of Israel, committed unknowingly, would be covered by the blood of that lamb.

I noted earlier that the Tabernacle was a picture of the connection between God and people. And it has become a picture of God's solution for sin, and the reconciliation of people to God.

We could not enter God's presence because of our sin. But Jesus, the only one without sin, entered the Most Host Place for us, as our high priest. And he entered the Most Holy Place, as the unblemished lamb, for sacrifice.

The high priest brought the perfect sacrifice into God's presence; and the blood of the sacrifice covered the sins of all people. When the sins of people have been cleansed, they now have permission to go directly to God. There is no sin blocking them anymore.

It is written in the Gospels, that when Jesus died, immediately, the very thick, strong curtain, intended to block people from the Most Holy Place, was torn in two. There was nothing to block normal, every day people from moving into God's presence. Each person has the opportunity to stand next to God's throne, to hear God's voice, and to see his face.

Jesus mad provision for this. We do not have this right, or opportunity, until Jesus' provision becomes ours. That's why the Bible talks about faith. God wants everyone to have this close, and intimate, access. And Jesus' death gives us the means to open the door, and use the opportunity. But faith is the open hands to take the means as our possession. And taker the open relationship as our possession. We can say to God, "You have made this opportunity, this gift, available. I want to take what you are giving."

God is still concerned about sin, and about how we live our lives. But because of Jesus, our high priest, and the torn curtain, a whole, new way of dealing with right living becomes possible, and available to those who respond in faith.

What is the Gospel?

 The word "gospel" is derived from old English, which in turn is derived from the Greek work "euangelion". It means simply "good news". 

The gospel is a proclamation of good news, namely:

• Sin has destroyed life and creation.
• Sin is mankind turning away from God and refusing to allow God his rightful position as Ruler over creation.
• But God has a solution. Jesus, who is both God and man, entered the world
• To demonstrate God's heart and character.
• To die on a cross.

In that death, he suffered the penalty for sin, for all mankind, past, present, and future. He offers pardon for sin, if we accept it by faith, and restore God to his rightful, and proper place as Lord, in our hearts and practices. Jesus gives this as a gift, by grace. Grace is God's power, love, and generosity given freely.

This sacrifice, and gift of grace, is effective for reconciling God and man, justifying man for sin -- past, present, and future -- and redeems man back to God. It also brings change into people's lives by changing their hearts, their spiritual DNA, so it conforms with God's heart. People begin to keep God's word, to love, to speak graciously, and to have attitudes that yield peace, joy and hope.

As people turn to God by faith, live by grace, in connection with God through the Holy Spirit, according to God's word, they learn to share the gospel in a winning way. So, grace, faith, and renewed lifestyles begin to multiply. And as people who live by love and grace multiply, it should begin to have an effect on society, and culture. Step one of God's plan to heal racism, poverty, violence, chemical dependence, dishonesty, and corruption is the natural effects of grace, faith, and the Holy Spirit in the heart of God's family interacting, and living together as God designed it to be. Step two is God's family moving out toward the ends of the earth, with the gospel, and the love God plants in their hearts, to be expressed with the help of God's Spirit shining through God's children.

God's Design and Man's Response

 God designed all of life. God designed human beings, a relationship between God and people, and a relationship between people. 

One way of looking at sin: a person thinking, acting, or speaking outside of the design specifications. Moreover, a person could live within the specs, but have the attitude that the Engineer did not make a good design. This person's design was superior to the Engineer's, and this person chooses to live according to their personal design.

Even God's people do not always live by his design specifications.

God's primary spec is love. So, God's people should be especially characterized by love.

Too many of God's people see people living outside of God's specs, and respond with anger.

Love is not happy when people live outside of God's design. Because love wants the best for people, love wants people to embrace God's design. So, love is happy when a person takes a step toward agreement with God's design.

But anger is contrary to patience. Ignoring, or refusing to work for someone else's benefit, is contrary to kindness. Giving up on someone is contrary to hoping all things.

God's people need to agree, and abide in God's design in all matters, and all situations, in thought, internal agreement, and practice.