Living Peacefully II

Sometimes it can be easily to live in our own little bubble and ignore everything else going wrong around us. But is that biblical?

I have witnessed, as well as taken part in, noticing a bad or violent event and just shaking our heads saying "What is wrong with so an so?" But in reality, we should be asking "What's wrong with me for not doing something about that". We can't keep someone from murdering someone else, we can't keep Kentucky from flooding, and we can't keep someone from hitting a rough spot where they go through something tough. We simply can't. But you know what we can do? We can be there for the family of the person who died. We can raise money for the victims of the flood. We can be there for others when they hit a rough spot.

We have got to do something. We were told to be stewards of God's world. Are be being good stewards by watching our friends and family fall apart because of grief and depression? Do we sit there and say "poor whoever." Well, yes we do, but no we shouldn't! This has to stop! Last week we talked about peace in our hearts, but it's time to let that never-ending peace spill out into this wicked world.

When you hear about a lost group of people who have never heard of Jesus, what is your reaction? Do you say "It's too bad no one cares enough to go share the Gospel with them" or do you stand up and say "I will make sure they don't die before I know they know of Jesus". Which mentality is produced by a healthy spiritual life? I understand that some of you are old or young or disabled, maybe, but what can you do? Can you donate? Can you go? Can you lead someone to them? If you can't do any of those, I know what you can do. You can pray. You can always pray! I don't mean where your pastor leads the congregation in a prayer and you close your eyes and then echo an 'amen'. I mean where you go in your room and shut the door and get one your knees and you have a one-on-one with God. That's heartfelt and authentic praying.

I want use racial injustice as an example. Is there anything we can do to stop it entirely? Well, no. Think of it like this. If you take one grain of sand from the beach, is it a big deal? Probably not, but if a lot of people take a few grains from the beach, it does make a big difference. If one person lives like there is no racial barrier and leaves a good example to their friends and family, they are likely to notice. Not to mention, you can change than individual's world with kindness and respect. The entire Earth doesn't have to know. You do what God wants you to do for\with someone with love and compassion, and He will bless your work.

Sadie Robertson Huff says "Five seconds of awkward can save a lifetime of regret". She was talking about something else, but it fits this situation. If we are put on the spot and forced to make a tough situation, are we willing to experience a few awkward seconds and do what we know is right, or do we want a lifetime of regret? I don't know anyone who wants a lifetime of regret, do you?

People are mean to each other, constantly. And I mean all people, because we've all taken part in it. But let's be nice to people! All people!

Acts 17:26 NASB "And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation". God made all the people from one man whom He personally created. He made every single person on this Earth through His power, and therefore every person on this Earth is special. How can God make you and you not be special?

Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God". Are we making peace, or are we wishing we had it? Wishing we had something does not make it appear. We have to be a part of making the peace. We can do that by stopping the violence. I don't just mean physical violence, but I also mean mental and spiritual violence. Words can do more damage than a knife, ya know? When you do something mean or impartial to someone, it can leave them very messed up, especially if they were already having a bad day. Judgy looks, refusal to speak to or be friendly, refusal to leave a tip, those kinds of things can leave people feeling worthless and down. That can lead to depression. Depression can lead to suicide. See where I'm going with this?

1 Peter 3:10-11 says "The one who desires life, to see love and good days must keep his lips from evils and his tongue from deceit. He must turn away from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it." Are you seeking peace or just wishing for it? And if you hit a rough spot, so you do time to pursue it or do you give up? Maybe you need to make peace with someone who has hurt you. Maybe you need to make peace with an event that shook you to your core. I don't know, but do the best you can with it. Even if the one who hurt you won't let you make peace, you can always forgive him. It will always help. Hebrews 12:14 restates the same idea.

Hebrews 12:24 "Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord."

I want to say something that you may have never thought of. If you have ever treated someone unfairly because they have different morals, religions, or ethnicities, that in itself is not like Christ. It doesn't get any more simpler that. God loved the world. The whole world. And since He is the same forever, He still loves the whole world. Even the people you don't love. So we should love, too. If you have ever thought that God does not love them, you are wrong and always will be. You cannot believe part of the Bible and not the other part. The Bible are all words from God.

So, to close (even though I could go on for a while more), I will say this. Examine your heart and your mind. Do you hold contempt for someone because they aren't exactly like you? Well stop, because you sin too, and all sins are the same in God's eyes. If you currently do hold contempt and act impartially or judge in your mind, make an effort to stop and repent. Because remember, we are the light of the world and the city on a hill that acts as examples of God's love. If we do a bad job of that, it does not lead people to God and we are not fulfilling the Great Commission. Be a good example of God's love and how grace can change a heart. Have a good day, and go be nice to somebody!!!