God Speaking

“I am the Lord who brought your up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy”

(Leviticus 11: 45)

We are living through the world being in turmoil and then added to his terrifying plague, corona virus, we are plunged into the chaos of ugly racism sweeping through the U.S.A.  Racism has long been there, but the threat of perhaps, death through the virus, has frayed nerves and emotions have risen to the surface demanding that we all face the truth about what people are suffering and rightly so. We as God’s people need to look closely at how we view others and how we can be holy as the Lord told us, (Leviticus 11: 45) the definition of holy, means to be set apart. I feel this means that we are not influenced by what the world says, but we are guided by what God’s word says, we are to be different and stand out as those who spread love not hatred.

Paul entreats the believers at Philippi to look carefully at the incredible characteristics of Jesus Christ and emulate them and allow them to govern the way we live and allow the world to see how we stand out , not in arrogance at how superior we are, but to be humble as how our Saviour lived among mankind, not to look down on others we consider beneath us , but to think of others more highly than ourselves, to see ourselves as servants to others not masters;

“ Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus; Who being in very nature, God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2: 5 – 8)

Paul also entreats the believers to look beyond what they think is important to them and to be aware of how others look at their lives and to realise what is important to them

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2: 4)

Hatred and fear lead to anger and violence and some protests about racism have led just to that. How do we follow God’s directive to be holy and to follow Christ Jesus’ example?

Gentleness is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22) and when we want to stand up for what is right in the eyes of God the way to do that is with gentleness and respect of others. Peter writes in his epistle a wonderful way for still to stand up for what we believe, but to do it with gentleness and respect, a wonderful reminder for all of us during these troubled times what ever country we live in.

“But in your heart set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3: 15)