Whenever the world invalidly characterizes Christians as heartless, the best response is for Christians to demonstrate genuine loving kindness.

Whenever the world unfairly paints Christians as callously hard-hearted, the best response is for Christians to demonstrate genuine compassion.

If we persevere in doing good, faithfully believing in Jesus and eagerly awaiting Christ’s return, sooner or later someone is bound to ask us the reason for the hope we have within us!

May we be prepared to answer that we have placed our trust and faith in Jesus.  That we know Jesus is returning one day to take us to a blessed eternal home.  And that this very same hope is available to all who will make Jesus their Lord and Savior.

In today's reading, the apostle Peter challenges born again Christians like you and me to live such good lives among unbelievers that even though though they accuse us of doing wrong, they will see our good deeds and ultimately glorify God on the day Christ returns.

That's no easy task!  But here's an important payoff!  By demonstrating virtue in the face of unfair adversity, we can help demonstrate that Christ’s love truly is living within us.  We can show that we don't just love people who are kind or nice to us.  We love all people because all people have been made in God's image.  We love all people because our Lord Jesus has taught us to love everyone.  

When we love our enemies, we demonstrate a supernatural love that transcends normal human affection.  

If we stop to think about it, that's how we came to know Jesus ourselves!  Jesus loved you and me so much that He was willing to endure unjust suffering for our sake.  Jesus paid the highest price.  He died on the cross to pay for our sins even though He didn't deserve to die.  Jesus' demonstration of virtue in the face of unfair suffering made such a strong impression upon us that we ended up entrusting our very lives to Him!

Well, now Jesus calls each of us to follow in His footsteps.  Jesus calls us to love our neighbors so much that we will become willing to endure unfair suffering for the sake of our neighbors. Instead of allowing ourselves to grow bitter and resentful whenever we are misunderstood or mischaracterized by non-believers, may we obey Jesus by seeking to demonstrate genuine love and concern for their eternal well-being.  

May we not wait until we feel like praying for your enemies.  But rather let us pray for our enemies out of obedience to Jesus.  For then we will discover the amazing power of God to transform us from the inside out!

Your friend in Christ, bro Mark

God has called each of us out of darkness and into his marvelous light.  He has given us great mercy so that we may proclaim His praises!

1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

All people are like grass.  The grass withers and the flowers fall.

But the word of the Lord endures forever!

And this is the word that was preached to you!

“Be holy because I am holy…”

God has not only saved us UNTO eternal life with Him forever in heaven.  He has also saved us in order to liberate us FROM empty, destructive ways of life here on earth!

How does He do it?  By God’s Holy Spirit, He empowers Christians to no longer  conform to the patterns we see around us.  He helps us learn when to say “no” to things which are not good for ourselves and others (even though they might seem to feed our short term desires).  He also helps us recognize opportunities to say “yes” to good things which make us more like Jesus (even when a selfish part of us might tend to prefer not to get involved).

Before we came to know Jesus, we used to comply with evil desires in ignorance.  

But now that we’ve been saved, let us always be ready to do good whenever God calls us into action!  

For we shall be holy because the Lord our God is holy!

bro Mark

Even in times of suffering, we still have so much to be thankful for… so much to be joyful about!

My goal was to share a timeless truth from holy scripture with you in under 5 minutes today.  How did I do?  I'd love to hear from you.  My e-mail address is [email protected].

bro Mark

Day 3 of 20 -

If we stop to think about it, the believers Peter wrote to in Asia minor way back in the first century were actually like you and me in a lot of ways!  

I hope today’s devotional helps us catch a glimpse of the inexpressible and glorious joy available to us in Christ Jesus!

Your friend, 

bro Mark