Friday, November 2, 2007

The Normal Christian Life

“Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9 CSB)

Probably the definition of what constitutes a “normal” Christian life depends on who you talk with about it. So, let’s talk with Peter about it. What he describes in the two verses above is his definition. This is the way it should be.

The first part of his definition is that Christians who live a normal Christian life should be of one mind. We should be agreed on what is true. To be like-minded is not to be a programmed robot. It means to choose to agree and to think essentially the same way, being sympathetic to one another and loving toward one another.

The second part of his definition has to do with compassion and humility. Jesus was often moved to compassion. We reach that arena when we jettison any harshness or hard-heartedness and replace it with humility, a teachable spirit, a heart that is open to being moved.

The third part of his definition is that Christians who live a normal Christian life should respond to hurtful situations in exactly the opposite way the world responds. When evil is done to us, or when we are insulted, we should not respond in kind but to the contrary bless those who do this to us. In blessing, we receive a blessing. In blessing where blessing is not deserved, we are engaging people in the ways of our Heavenly Father, for that is what He does.

Lord, Help us this and each day to live out the normal Christian life, as taught in Your word, and not according to our society or culture’s definitions. Amen.

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