We live in a world where evil can sometimes seem overwhelming. And when something especially horrific happens, as it does with increasing regularity, it’s easy to become angry, fearful, discouraged, or simply join everyone else in complaining about how bad things have become.
But God calls His people to something very different.
We’re not to mingle with the darkness until we’re indistinguishable from it. Neither are we to retreat into our Christian circles and merely complain about what’s happening outside. We’re called to be salt and light—to live differently, speak the truth in love, and hold out the hope of Christ to a broken world.
That means there will be times when we must call evil what it is, even when doing so is unpopular. But how we do it matters, too. We aren’t to be self-righteous, mean-spirited, or argumentative. Our goal isn’t to win an argument or gain the approval of people. Like Paul, we should “make it our aim … to be well pleasing to Him” (2 Cor. 5.9).
So, when darkness seems to be growing, are we merely whining about it—or are we shining? And what does being salt and light actually look like in times like these?
Perhaps more today than ever before, our nation’s airways, print media, internet, classrooms, political arenas, and even living rooms are filled with diverse and opposing views. There is a clash of ideas ranging from religion to science to right and wrong itself.
These aren’t minor differences of opinion. They are, at their heart, worldview issues. Yet, Jesus didn’t pray for us to be taken out of the world or out of these discussions. In fact, understanding what God says about many of these ideas should make us first examine our own ideas and opinions and then be willing to share the truth with others. But how can we do that without getting as angry as many of those with whom we disagree?
Life seems to be full of choices. Little choices. Big choices. But in reality, there are only two. Yet, making the right one often determines whether life goes well or whether life gets hard. If our lives are full of tribulation and distress, we may need to examine our choices in light of this principle. When we do, we can enjoy what the Apostle Paul called glory, honor, and peace, in place of tribulation and distress.
Check out today’s reading in Proverbs to find out more about those two choices and their connection to tribulation, distress, and hardship.
Do you have any difficult people in your life? Most of us do. Is there someone that God has not changed (even though you have been praying and praying) … and it’s hard? So, how does God want us to respond to them?
In previous posts, we’ve looked at some of the problems that are often present in blended families. We’ve talked about taking the logs out of our own eyes so we can see clearly. We’ve looked at some of God’s promises and, in the last blog, we talked about changing our goal from liking each other to loving each other with God’s kind of love. But there’s an even bigger goal that needs to become our number one priority.
