So as I read 1 and 2 Peter I've been thinking a lot about what it means to truly live like Christ. The idea of culture has been on my mind lately and it's interesting to see how much culture really affects all people. Why do we have a desire to be the best at everything and get defensive when we make a mistake? Why do we want positions of power and why do we have to prove ourselves all the time? Culture has affected us in so many ways it is ridiculous. We are overcome by the spirit of the world, and it has changed us to a great degree.
1 Peter talks about how as followers of the Way, we need to live in ways above reproach. In a way that we live at peace with everyone around us, yet not submitting to the practices they do. One of the church fathers wrote about these scattered believers and how they did follow the way they were meant to. He talks about how the people hated the Christians because they were so different and it is interesting because Peter told them that if they would be faithful to God and to live in ways pleasing to Him, then the people around them would repent. He wasn't quite on with that prediction, but it is interesting to note that it is our relationship to God that matters more than anything. It is about us being faithful to what he calls us to do, and then just giving the cold cup of water to the others. It is between me and God, not anyone else. I have to be faithful to what I am called to do and live in a way that submits to a higher culture. This has been a struggle lately because I don't really know how to not be influenced by others around me. I want to just ignore all the comments that bother me, but sometimes I cannot. So I guess, God I really need you to teach me what it looks like to submit to a new authority and a new culture. What does it mean for me to ignore what others are doing and what does it look like for me to try and challenge others to the higher calling. I pray I will remain faithful and adhere to the Kingdom culture rather than that of this world.
Continuing on with this idea, we were reading James yesterday as a Bible study and we were looking at chapter 3. It is James talking about how the people he is writing to were not taking care of one another and how they were not speaking well towards each other. He uses a lot of metaphoric ideas to help not be super blunt about the sins of the people. It is interesting to me because he is even using his own tongue to not set fires or anything. He is approaching a delicate situation in a delicate way. It is encouraging to know that even James of the Bible knew he had to be careful with how he spoke to people and so I guess I just pray that I would have the same wisdom. That I could live and speak in ways that are uplifting and not demeaning. I pray that I will be obedient to what I've been called to and that I will fully trust that God really has my best interests in mind. I want to go on the rocket, not the jet plane. Give me wisdom and guidance in all things God. I trust you and I believe you are making me perfect. Help me learn my eschatology and live up to the purpose set for me. Thank you for the journey we have already experienced. I am so excited about how you take care of me and the things we get to do together. I pray I will walk closely with you always. Help me discern your spirit and fill me with it in ways I never would have expected. I want to submit to Your authority and not to the powers of this world. Give me strength and courage amidst the craziness that my life will certain entail.
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