Title: The Christian Lifestyle
Contents: Christ's Life (1 Peter 3:13-17) 09Wednesday
If you look at fairy tales and novels that transcend East and West, there are common stories. What kind of stories are good people hated by evil people? If you look at the story of the bean sprouts in Korea, or look at the stories of <Cinderella's story> and <Snow White>, which can be seen as Western versions of the bean sprouts, there is a story of strangely good people being hated by evil people.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .>
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But maybe these stories are the stories of Christians and unbelievers living in this world. Believers try to live upright and honest in every way more than non-believers. But strangely believing people are hated by the world.
It's a natural thing. Because we are children of God, people who are not children of God do not like it very much. It's because the affiliations we live in in the world are so different from them.
At a deeper root there is a being called the devil.
The devil, who acts as a master in this world, hates the children of God who live in this world. So, in many ways, it makes us miserable. Just as they persecuted Jesus, so we persecute. We should be aware of this fact and acknowledge it. So, how should we behave in this world?
1. Diligently do good (13)
I was told to work hard to do good. This means to live diligently and kindly. It means that whatever you do, do something good. It means to live a good life to the extent that people around the world will hear that <that person has a label of “good mark” on it>. When someone thinks of you, <Ah! A good person> It means to live a good life enough to bring up this image.
1) Why do we have to live like that?
Because there is no need for us to live in this world without unnecessary misunderstandings. This is to make sure that people who do not believe in this world will not be blamed for nothing.
We believers, if we make a mistake, it is easy to come and go in the mouths of those who do not believe. It is the nature of the world to criticize, saying, "If you do well, you do well, if you do not do it, you do not." So it's hard to deal with. Because we are living in such a world, there should be no faults at all. So you have to work hard to do good.
2. Be prepared to suffer for the sake of righteousness (14)
If we live a good life like this, will those who do not believe leave us alone? Not like that. Even if we live a good life, there is a high possibility of persecution (14).
You may be ignored for believing in Jesus, you may be kicked out of your family for believing in Jesus, you may be beaten for believing in Jesus, and you may even die for believing in Jesus. It's hard to bear to be treated like this by people. It's hard for me to endure being treated unfairly just because I believe in Jesus, even though I've done nothing wrong.
1) But today's text says. Blessed are those who suffer for the sake of righteousness. It is a blessing to suffer because of the Lord.
Everyone! Let's think about it. Why is it a blessing to be persecuted?
It is difficult and difficult, but why is it a blessing? Who are you having trouble with? It is a blessing because you receive it because of the Lord.
For example, if you work hard for the country and give your life for the country, the state remembers that person and rewards that person, commemorates that person forever, and further rewards that person as a national meritorious person. Why? Because he worked hard for the country.
For whom do we suffer and for whom do we suffer? It is received for God. Naturally, God remembers all our toil, suffering, and pain for God, and commemorates us in heaven forever, and especially gives us a great reward. So being persecuted is a blessing. The Bible also makes it clear. (Matthew 5:10)
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
The blessing of those who are persecuted because of the Lord is that the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Everyone! What is the best of all the blessings? It's not about eating and living well. That's a blessing, but what's more important? It is a blessing to go to heaven. Ultimately, our ultimate goal is to go to heaven.
But why is the kingdom of heaven blessed for those who are persecuted?
Anyone who has suffered persecution knows this. When persecuted because of the Lord, strangely, that person thinks of the Lord more earnestly and longs for and longs for the heaven where the Lord is. In the end, such a person will surely go to heaven. So you will have heaven.
2) Don't be afraid (14b)
When you are persecuted, do not be afraid and do not be troubled. The most difficult thing when facing persecution is fear and anxiety. I know from experience.
I can't go to church on Sundays, so I leave the house like dawn. I spend the whole day at church and go home in the evening. Then I stood in front of the front door of the house for 20-30 minutes. It was because they were so afraid of the insults and persecution they would receive when they entered the house. I was really afraid when he insisted on <Parents or Jesus, choose one of the two now>. I was actually afraid when I said that I would be kicked out of my house if I continued to go to church.
But the Bible says, “Do not be afraid, do not be troubled.” Why? Because God is the living God. Because that God will protect me. This is where real faith comes in. What is needed in a really desperate situation is faith in God.
But it's weird. In reality, fear and anxiety come rushing in, but on the other hand, you begin to have faith that God will surely protect you, feed you, and be with you. Then, strangely, boldness in the heart arises. courage arises.
The living God will starve me! I'm not responsible! This kind of crap happens. And then you come to know that this is exactly what it means to truly believe in God. Seeing that, persecution is not only negative. There is great benefit to our faith.
3. Always be ready (15)
1) The more difficulties we face in this world, the more we have to work hard. As in the beginning of verse 15, we make Jesus the Lord of our hearts. The most powerful force to overcome this difficulty is to have Jesus as the King of my heart. It is because when Jesus sits as King in the center of my heart, that power starts from my heart and naturally manifests through my actions through my lips, hands, and feet. Because I can do everything with the strength that the Lord gives me in my heart. So the more difficult it is, the more we must hold on to Jesus.
2) Even in the second difficulty, there is another thing we should strive for. When unbelievers ask us about our faith, we always have the answers ready.
If we continue to act rightly, honestly, and with faith in the face of such difficulties, there will surely be people around us who ask us questions. <How can you live so strong and bright in the face of such difficulties? What is the reason?> There will be people who ask like this. At that time, we say, <I can do this because I have this kind of hope and this kind of faith.> We should always be prepared so that we can answer confidently like this.
When we see this, we always have to think of two things.
The first is to manage one's heart and faith well, and the other is to always think about those who do not believe and prepare to preach the gospel. You need to be conscious of these two.
< Conclusion >
We have been thinking about how we should behave in today's world.
1. You must work hard to do good.
2. Nevertheless, we must be prepared to suffer.
3. However, we must remember how blessed suffering is for the Lord.
4. And be prepared to share our faith with unbelievers. We must always keep in mind the salvation of others as well as our own salvation.
I hope you will keep your personal faith well and become people of precious faith that lead people around you to the Lord because of you.