A couple of quick thoughts from this morning's time with God.
1 Peter 3:15-16 NET
But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. [16] Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.
Set Christ apart as Lord
What does it mean to 'set Christ apart as Lord'? What does that look like in my life and in yours. I can only answer for me but as I read these verses it's important to look at what comes before because that is what gives context to this. The verses before are all about honouring other people, in the way we live, how we speak and in our actions.
So setting Christ apart is all about honouring him first and foremost. Giving Jesus first place means letting him have the way in our thoughts, attitudes and behaviour so our lives reflect his nature and not our own. Then when we are asked, we can give a reason for the hope we have in him. When Jesus has first place in our hearts, God's Spirit can produce in us the right fruit, the right speech, the right behaviour.
And then further on we read:
1 Peter 4:17 NET
For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God?
I always find this verse interesting. Jesus clearly calls us not to judge one another in Matt 7:1-3. So what could Peter mean here?
Remember the context is all about our attitudes. I believe God is asking us to take a look deeply into our own attitudes, motives and behaviours. We can judge our actions and behaviours in the light of the grace given to us through Christ.
I think we can sometimes find these verses to be not very palatable because we want to solely focus on God's grace. However God is going to make a judgement on how we live and how we have allowed his grace and love to transform us.
We are saved by faith. It is the only thing that saves. This is God's grace and nothing else as we see in Eph 2:8. But because of grace, our actions become part of the saving process of working out our salvation. Paul, after encouraging us to have the attitude of Jesus says to work hard to show the results of your salvation and to do so with awe and reverence, Phil 2:12,13 (NET)
So what does this mean for me and for you? How do we apply this to our lives?
Here is my take on this.
Am I living my faith by concentrating on and focusing on my journey and what I need to work on and deal with rather than judging others?
In other words - judge my own actions according to God's word and let God make a judgement on other people.
What about you?
