“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. ² The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. ³ We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. ⁴ We write this to make our joy complete.” (1John 1:1-3)

Jesus shared His life with the world. The early disciples testified to it. More importantly than that they lived this truth out on a daily basis. Here is a brief excerpt describing the impact early Christians had on their culture:

They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all others; they beget children, but they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table, but not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death and restored to life. They are poor yet make many rich; they are in lack of all things and yet abound in all; they are dishonored and yet in their very dishonor are glorified. They are evil spoken of and yet are justified; they are reviled and bless; they are insulted and repay the insult with honor; they do good yet are punished as evildoers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners and are persecuted by the Greeks, yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred. To sum it all up in one word — what the soul is to the body, that are Christians in the world.” From  The Epistle to Diognetes, c. AD 130

Another writer summarizes the impact the early Christian had on the people around them:

“. . . Christianity served as a revitalization movement that arose in response to the misery, chaos, fear, and brutality of life in the urban Greco-Roman world. . . . Christianity revitalized life in Greco-Roman cities by providing new norms and new kinds of social relationships able to cope with many urgent problems. To cities filled with the homeless and impoverished, Christianity offered charity as well as hope. To cities filled with newcomers and strangers, Christianity offered an immediate basis for attachment. To cities filled with orphans and widows, Christianity provided a new and expanded sense of family. To cities torn by violent ethnic strife, Christianity offered a new basis for social solidarity. And to cities faced with epidemics, fire, and earthquakes, Christianity offered effective nursing services. . . . For what they brought was not simply an urban movement, but a new culture capable of making life in Greco-Roman cities more tolerable.” Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity, Princeton University Press, 1996, page 161.

When we share the changed Holy Spirit Filled lives that we have because of Jesus the world will take notice. Sharing our faith will become easier because our lives and our love will open doors to  hearts and minds to the possibility of the truth about Jesus. Once that takes place who knows what can happen?

Today live your life in the light of what Jesus has done for you. Live your life in the gratitude and power of the transformation that has taken place in you. Then when you get the opportunity, love someone with Jesus’ love.

I want to share my condolences and shock at the continued violence that seems to be an everyday occurrence in today’s America. Leonard Pitts Jr. quoted Robert Kennedy, “My favorite poet,” he told them, “was Aeschylus. And he once wrote, ‘And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.’ What we need in the United States is not division. What we need in the United States is not hatred. What we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness but is love and wisdom and compassion toward one another and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer in our country, whether they be white or whether they be black.”

He then goes on to say, “Those words feel hopelessly idealistic, impossibly innocent and yet, wise, grace-filled and…right for the raw pain of this moment I commend them to all our wounded spirits on this shining morning from a peaceful place that, as it turns out, is not nearly far enough away.”

I see those statements as being a clear call for Christians to be about our Lord’s work of loving God and loving others. Who else but ambassadors of the Prince of Peace have a message that can reconcile every human heart with their creator and with every other person? Our example from Jesus and instructions from Paul  are simple and very clear. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” and “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” He was about peace, He died for man to have peace with God and provided a way to truly love each other. The Apostle Paul added,” If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”

How do we bring this peace? By sharing our faith. Evangelism isn’t just about more people in church and fewer people in hell. It is about lives that are transformed by Jesus’ love. These transformed lives live out that transformation in ways that makes everyone’s life around them better. More loving, more peaceful, more secure, more giving, and more graceful.

Only Jesus can bring this about. Only His Church and His people can be the deliverers of this transforming message of love and peace.

What is the answer to the violence in the world today? The same as it has always been; Followers of Jesus Following Jesus. Share His love with someone today. Share His Message. Be the peace that you desire to see in the world. It isn’t idealistic or impossibly innocent it is God’s Plan,  the Good News of Jesus.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.

Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

John 14:27

Have you ever had someone tell you something for your own good? Have you ever felt good after they told you? Usually not. One of the problems with “knowing” that you are right is the self-righteous attitude that often accompanies such certainty.  I have had people share with (insult) me about my parenting, political affiliations,  religious beliefs, communication style, fashion choices  and much more  all under the guise of wanting the best for me.

My questions always are, How do you know what is best for me? (Do you know me at all? The circumstances that brought me to this point in my life? Do you know where God is leading me? By what authority do you make this pronouncement?)  and Do you actually care at all for me? (Do I even know you? Do you know me? Why does it seem that you are saying this for your good? Is this the kindest way you could say it? Do you have a brain in you head or a heart in your chest?) Okay, I know that was more than two questions.

Hopefully, you get the point. I am sure with the recent political cycle we are going through you have seen many examples of people “wanting the best for us” who have no clue about us. This is where as followers of Jesus we are given a better way to connect with people. The example is from Jesus Himself.

Your attitude should be the same
as that of 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.
(Philippians 2:5-7)

If anyone had the right to shove something in our face and down our throat it was Jesus. He choose a better, more noble, more human way to share the ultimate, unchanging, absolute truth that every person must account for by being humble. Even more than just being humble, He sought to serve people, meeting them at their need. He earned the right to speak what was and is the best for them.

We need to earn the right to tell others of Jesus’ love. Only a life lived like Jesus full of service and humility, (not self-righteousness and arrogant attitudes) will win the opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with our friends, neighbors, and relatives.if you want to tell someone something for their good, make sure they know that you love them.

“Whom you would change, you must first love.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.