We live in a world that is stuck in a cycle of violence. Vengeance is permitted but Jesus calls his followers to live in an alternative way of life that seems impractical from the world's perspective but it is the way of Jesus. This is one of the hardest teachings I believe Jesus gives and we are too often quick to explain away what Jesus meant in order to justify what we already believe about the place of violence in our world. Let's begin the journey of being peacemakers in the way of Jesus. If you'd like to discuss any of this further, please feel free to email me - ryan@nodachurch.com
Here are some steps to becoming the peacemaker Jesus has called you to be:
- Know who your enemies are. Which group makes your blood boil, works you up, and gets you angry? Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal to you the way He sees them. Ask God to help you to see them as His image bearers and to see what love looks like for them.
- Refuse to be enemies. We should expect that the world is going to hate us. Jesus promises that this will happen (John 15:18). Refuse to be enemies no matter what the world does.
- Prepare how you will respond to the world in love. What does love require of you in any given situation? Does your idea of responding in love look like Jesus on the cross?
- Jesus meets us where we are, in our sinfulness, to bring us into a transformative relationship where we continue the journey with him into our resurrection. What does it look like to meet people where they are and journey with them towards fullness in Christ found in the resurrection?
Blog - Ryan's Ramblings - Refusing to be Enemies
