Christianity is Not for Wimps!
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1 Peter 1:22-25, 2:1-3
22. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, love one another earnestly from the heart. 23. You have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24. for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25. but the word of the Lord abides for ever." That word is the good news which was preached to you. 2. So put away all malice and all guile and insincerity and envy and all slander. 2. Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation; 3. for you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
We’re not supposed to be wimpy Christians! We’re to love one another earnestly, we’re born of imperishable seed, and long for spiritual milk. In other words, if you really do “get it” act like it! Using Christ as our model, it follows that we would stand out in a crowd. People will turn to look at us and marvel at the glow of God’s love that emanates from us. The world will know we are Christians by the activity we generate and the empowered, glowing, love-emanating souls we leave in our wake!
The comparison of how we are to long for pure spiritual milk really hits home with me. Newborn babies--human and otherwise--are programmed to seek their mother’s breast! As soon as a baby is placed upon the mother’s chest for her to view, the little head starts thrashing around, and their mouths start working, making the sucking motion! And puppies--well, they’ll bowl right over all the other litter mates to get what they need--even before they can see, they know what they need and where to get it! We used to breed dogs, and it really is quite comical to watch -- of course, I always was inclined to pull the big, fat, bully away so the runt could get a turn!
I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “He comes from good stock.” That’s us! We are born of seed that does not perish. Our faith can withstand anything life throws at us--no obstacle is too great to overcome! We can jump any wall, bear any burden, right any wrong, and love the unlovable--because of Christ. Notice that all the very busy people in this country suddenly have time to organize relief efforts for our brothers and sisters in the southern states along the Gulf Coast? Isn’t it amazing how compassion and love can mobilize an entire nation? And the churches have been at the forefront--as is typically the case.
Christians don’t need to change their way of living or thinking or acting--no planning required there! Perhaps that’s the reason that, so often, faith-based organizations are the first responders--we already have our foundation laid. We have the most crucial resource present in our daily lives--our faith in God. In our church, often the youth take the lead in missions and service projects. Some would say their joyful, worship-ful attitude is because they haven’t been disappointed yet, they haven't been discouraged by the state of the world. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we never did!? I know whenever I’m around those teenagers, my whole attitude changes! I feel a little more energized, and forget a lot of the negativity and find myself thinking, “Maybe we can change the world . . .”
Our priorities change when we’re saved--we really do become like brand new creatures. Our desire to serve others takes over our lives. Our eagerness cannot be contained. Our need to reach out to others and share the good news with them is urgent! Our lives reflect the joy and the wonder of being born into a family who grants us each an eternal inheritance. How can we be silent? How can we turn back to our former lives? How can we doubt our future? Our stubbornly hopeful optimism is contagious! We make the world a better place, merely by our presence.
My prayer today is that you eagerly, earnestly, long for the life Christ afforded us by his sacrifice. And that you joyfully, with the single-mindedness of a new-born babe, spread the good news of the risen Christ to everyone you meet.
Mary
