Teaching the Teachers - Don't Forget the Attitude
1 Peter 3:15
[This is the 7th lesson of this series]
Everything about the new creation in Christ is summed up in one word -- love.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Loved
God loved us regardless of who we are and what we have done. He loved us first. And gave us the power and the opportunity to love Him back in return, and love others including the most unlovable person in the room with us -- ourselves.
This love is called grace. We did not earn it. We do not deserve it. It is a gift. Why? So we do not go overboard, take credit or think we have no need of God.
Oh and believe me, we need God, every minute and every second of the day.
Teach
Why? Because we are called to "explain" or have an answer ready to "defend" our stand on our confidence in God.
But this is only half of the equation. Teaching without love is like winning an argument but losing the opportunity to win the other person over to God's side. That is not the point.
We explain, but only to lead people to Christ, not away from Him. We do everything with much care, with much gentleness and respect. Yes, with love.
Attitude
Let us say that again. It is not about the need to teach others but more about how we do it.
Being Christ like is being strong, strong in the Lord. Being strong in the Lord means being humble. Being humble means nothing about being weak.
Let us say that again. It is not about the need to teach others but more about how we do it.
Being Christ like is being strong, strong in the Lord. Being strong in the Lord means being humble. Being humble means nothing about being weak.
Gentleness
Gentleness, meekness and humility does not mean weak. It means love, grace and mercy. We do not need to win the battle because we have already won the war. It is over, God won. The enemy just does not know it yet. And most times the enemy is ourselves -- say it, I, me and myself.
How do we overcome? It is nothing about us but is about Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine.
1 Peter 3:8-18 MSG
Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
Whoever wants to embrace life
and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back
on those who do evil things.
If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God."
Image Credit: Gospel Light Society, twitter.com/glsociety
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