Evidence that Jesus never asks us to do soemthing that He has not already done...

This week we have been looking at s section of a letter in the Bible called the book of 1 Peter, where we have discovered that living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a life that represents Jesus well in our relationships with others. In 1 Peter 3:8-12, we see Peter reveal for us two different ways that we represent Jesus well in our relationships with others.

First we have seen Peter reveal for us the reality that we represent Jesus well in our relationships with others when we live in genuine and authentic community with one another as a church. As followers of Jesus we represent Jesus well as a church when we are living in genuine and authentic community with one another that is marked by unity. As followers of Jesus we represent Jesus well as a church when we are living in genuine and authentic community with one another that is marked by an understanding of one another. As followers of Jesus we represent Jesus well as a church when we are living in genuine and authentic community with one another that is marked by a mutual, brotherly and sisterly love for one another. As followers of Jesus we represent Jesus well as a church when we are living in genuine and authentic community with one another that is marked by compassion for one another. And as followers of Jesus we represent Jesus well as a church when we are living in genuine and authentic community with one another that is marked by humility toward one another.

Wednesday we saw Peter reveal for us the reality that we represent Jesus well in our relationships with others when we respond to being wronged the right way. As followers of Jesus, we respond to being wronged the right way when we refuse to respond in kind. And as followers of Jesus, we respond to being wronged the right way when we ask God to extend favor to the one who wronged us. As followers of Jesus, we are to ask God to extend favor to the one who wronged us in response to the life that Jesus called us to live as part of God’s kingdom community.

You see, we are called as followers of Jesus to follow the example of Jesus by blessing those who insult and wrong us. We are called to respond to being wronged in such a way because our inheritance of the blessings that come as a part of God’s kingdom community are freely given to us as we live out our identity in that community. And as Peter points out, our inheritance of the blessings that come as a part of God’s kingdom community enable and empower us to seek God’s favor on others, even those who do wrong to us.

Now right about now you are pushing back against everything I have just said. Maybe you are thinking to yourself “Well Dave If you only knew my situation; if you only knew how I have been wronged, you would not be saying what you just said to me. If you only knew how I have been wronged, you would understand why I think it is okay to retaliate and respond in kind to what has been done to me.  If you only knew how I have been wronged, you would understand why I am not going to ask God to extend favor to the person who has wronged me.”

If those thoughts, questions, and objections are running through your mind, I just want to let you know that those are fair objections. And we see how Peter responded to those objections in 1 Peter 3:10-12. Let’s look at it together:

 For, "THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT. ¹¹ "HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT. ¹² "FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL."

Here we see Peter quote from a section of a letter that is preserved and recorded for us in the Old Testament of the Bible called the book of Psalms. In Psalm 34:12-16, the Jewish nation’s most famous king, King David proclaimed that the person who desired to experience life in right relationship with God and who took pleasure in living as a part of God’s kingdom community in relationship with God kept their speech free from what was morally or socially reprehensible and from what would be considered shady or underhanded.

King David proclaimed that the person who desired to experience life in right relationship with God and who took pleasure in living as a part of God’s kingdom community in relationship with God ceased engaging in actions that were morally or socially reprehensible. Instead the person who desired to experience life in right relationship with God and who took pleasure in living as a part of God’s kingdom community in relationship with God strove to live in a way that met a high standard of worth and merit and for harmony in their relationships with others.

King David explained that the reason why the person who desired to experience life in right relationship with God and who took pleasure in living as a part of God’s kingdom community in relationship with God would live in such a way was due the reality that the Lord is attentive to and present in the life of a person who strived to live in a way that promoted what was right and just and that promoted a right and just society. By contrast, King David proclaimed that the Lord positions Himself in opposition to those who live in a way that is morally or socially reprehensible in how they treat others.

Peter quoted from this Psalm to reveal the reality that the Lord is against anyone who wrongs another. Peter’s point in that the Lord will position Himself in opposition to anyone, even Christians, who speak and act in a way that is morally or socially reprehensible, regardless of the circumstances that preceded such behavior. Peter quoted from this Old Testament Psalm to underscore the reality that asking God to extend favor to the one who wronged us has been a part of God’s kingdom community all along.

You see, God’s kingdom community has always been concerned with one thing. And that one thing is that members of God’s kingdom community represent Him well. And it is our response to when we are wronged that serves as a powerful apologetic that brings the light of the Kingdom of Heaven into the dark spaces and places where wrong occurs. And in the same way today, living as part of God’s kingdom community is to live in a way that represents Jesus well by responding to the wrong that occurs to us in our lives in a way that is an apologetic for the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel by doing the right thing in the face of that wrong.

Because, as we have discovered, living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a life that represents Jesus well in our relationships with others. As followers of Jesus, we represent Jesus well in our relationships with others when we live in genuine and authentic community with one another as a church. A church, a community of faith that is marked by unity: an understanding of one another: a mutual, brotherly or sisterly love for one another: a compassion for others: a humility towards others.

And as followers of Jesus we represent Jesus well in our relationships with others when we respond to being wronged the right way. As followers of Jesus, we respond to being wronged the right way when we refuse to respond in kind. And as followers of Jesus, we respond to being wronged the right way when we ask God to extend favor to the one who wronged us. You see, Jesus never asks us to do something that He has not already done for us. As followers of Jesus, we are called to follow the example of Jesus by blessing those who insult and wrong us.

As followers of Jesus, our inheritance of the blessings that come as a part of God’s kingdom community are freely given to us as we live out our identity in that community in our day to day lives in relationship with those around us. As followers of Jesus, it is our inheritance of the blessings that come as a part of God’s kingdom community that enable and empower us to seek God’s favor on others, even those who do wrong to us. And as followers of Jesus, the reality is that asking God to extend favor to the one who wronged us has been a part of God’s kingdom community all along.

So here is a question to consider: Do you represent Jesus well in your relationships with others? Do you represent Jesus well when it comes to how you live in community with other followers of Jesus? Do you represent Jesus when it comes to how you live in relationship with those who do not know Jesus? Do you represent Jesus well when it comes to how you respond when wronged? Do you respond in kind when wronged? Or do you respond by revealing and reflecting Jesus as you pray for God’s favor on those who wrong you?

Because, living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a life that represents Jesus well in our relationships with others…