In Case of Emergency – Stay The Course - Wednesday
Today’s Verse
1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. (ESV)
I don’t know about you, but those bubble toys where the colors don’t mix are mesmerizing to me. If you have one of these in your office, I may struggle to pay attention to what you are saying!
It’s the day after election day. Conflict and division have nearly defined our nation lately. These bubble toys are a reminder that there are a lot of things that can cause division when opposites don’t mix! Regardless of whether you are relieved or more concerned today, I‘m sure you know someone who feels just the opposite of you. Why can’t we all just be unified? Why can’t we all just get along?
The Bible answers this question very clearly. If we don’t have the same mission, vision, purpose, or goal we really can’t be unified. In John 15:19 Jesus says, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Our mission as defined in the Bible is to love God and love people—we can only be unified with others who have the same mission. Like the different liquids in those bubble toys, we can only mix with others made of the same substance.
1 Peter says that we shouldn’t be surprised by the fiery trials we experience. When you have different goals, unity is not possible and conflict is likely. That doesn’t mean we should turn our backs on unbelievers—quite the opposite! Part of God’s command is to love people by loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. That means we need to be a reflection of God’s love for a lost and broken world.
We can use our differences for the sake of the Gospel! Instead of being afraid to be different, stand out in boldness like the city on a hill in Mattew 5.
REFLECTION
Have you been making a pointless effort to be unified with things that are not from God? Pray and ask God to show you things in your life He may want you to set aside so that you can be unified with Him.