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Dividing Division

 "Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing."   1 Peter 3:8-9 (NLT)

In this current society, Pete's wise and instructive words could be so easily overlooked or just plain discarded hastily in the pursuit of so many available arguments, irritations and outright offenses. But as Jesus followers, if our mission and goal is follow Jesus - trying to speak and do as He would do, ... well, we have our work cut out for us - because He left some pretty clear footprints.

These days watching the news or sampling social media has become an exercise of enduring divisive assault along with a sideshow of people clamoring for attention. To a good heart it's become a tiring work to keep a holy perspective and maintain a response reflective of Christ's character in the midst of so much anger and division if one wades too far out into it. For that reason and so many others, I find that it's far better to keep focus on what God's made available for us to know and understand and to keep in mind that even as the world may be going crazy, ... His word is still perfectly relevant knowledge and instruction ... and He hasn't changed even a little bit.

Jesus never said that following Him would be easy and as things continue to go seemingly sideways in a society overtly obsessed with divisive issues, chaos and lust, we're still called to remember who and where we are. As followers and believers of Christ,  we're just passing through this place and we're called to stand apart from the world - because we don't belong to it ... 

(More from solid advice from Apostle Pete:)
"...They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world."  1 Peter 2:8-12 (NLT)

... We belong to God ...

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:1-11 (NLT)

Such is the spirit of Christ whom we "follow". If we must find a fight - a division, in a world gone astray, let our struggle be this - to represent Him in spirit and in truth according to His own pure character regardless of the circumstances.

Keep strong in the faith and united with Christ - that day we're waiting for is on the horizon.


"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)

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