How Shall I Live?

“Summing up:  Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble.  That goes for all of you, no exceptions.  No retaliation.  No sharp-tongued sarcasm.  Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless.  You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.”  (1 Peter 3:8,9  MSG)

That’s quite a list of adjectives to be applied to our lives—agreeable, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble.  And he doesn’t let anybody off the hook:  “That goes for all of you.  No exceptions.”  We are not even to speak back. “No retaliation.  No sharp-tongued sarcasm.”  But what are we to do?  Well he tells us that, also—“Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless.”

   What does Peter expect us to do, be like Jesus?  Yes, he does.  If we are to be most successful in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ and salvation, we need to emulate Him.  I looked at that, I read that verse again, and I said with all of my heart, “Thank you, Lord, for forgiveness.  I can work toward that, but I’m sure I will fail many times.”  I can strive to be like that.  I can set that as my goal each day, and some days I will do better than other days.  Every morning, I can pray that the Lord will lead me in such a manner that I will reflect His love for all of mankind.  

   The world will certainly react to anyone who emulates Jesus Christ, some with anger and some with acceptance.  That’s the way they reacted to Jesus, and Jesus told His disciples in John 15:18,20b:   “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first….If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.   If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”  (NIV)  Jesus did not quit speaking because some people hated Him; He kept on because some people loved Him and obeyed what He said.  That’s what he expects of us.  He didn’t say it would be easy.  But He did say that it would bring glory to both Him and the Father and would usher others into His eternal kingdom. 

   Though I fail at times, I will strive to reflect the love of Jesus Christ to all that I meet.  In Romans 12:18 we are told, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (NIV)  “AS FAR AS IT DEPENDS ON ME…”