It Is Time to Stand

"But if when you do what is right and suffer for it, you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God" 1 Peter 2:20b.

I believe Christ-followers are all going to be feeling this verse in the next few years, that is, if we have that long left. Some of us may already be seeing friends or family turn on us because of our beliefs. There might even be a thought in your head, "Not me. I will just keep quiet." God has a way of engaging us. I found that out a week ago when I thought I was keeping out of the hoopla on social media because it did not concern me. Lo, and behold, I was required to send an email towards inappropriate material in my business life. It was challenging for me, and believe me when I say it was not received well at all. In fact, the company defended the behavior as not intentional. Which I find worse because, to me, that means these behaviors are engrained because perversion is not an accident.
I don't know why we think we get to sit on the sidelines and spectate. Maybe for some silly reason, we believe that because someone has made a spectacle out of an issue, we can discount the topic's validity. For me, I hate drama, and I don't invite it into my life. Maybe though, that is one of Satan's tools. To cause so much chaos around critical topics that ordinary people start walking the other way. It is time for God's children to stop diverting our eyes. Evil is bold and proud. When are followers of Christ going to stop being ashamed of God?
At no point am I asking anyone to engage or fight online. God's word commands us to continue to do what is right and behave ourselves. You can participate in prayer zoom meetings right from your home. Many groups are fasting and praying for our nation. Remember, only God can change the heart of man.
When God's word warned us that during the end, right would be wrong and wrong would be right, I never thought of the insanity of it all. I don't think anyone can put words to the sorry and despair that some communities are experiencing. My sister shared with me, her dear friend is getting abuse from younger co-workers for doing her job. It makes them mad that she is doing her work assigned to her. Let that sink in. Let me finish with encouragement or a call to action. I often highlight the active verbs in whatever chapter I am reading. Here are the active words in 1 Peter 5. We are called to be partaker, exercise oversight, be the example, be humble, casting our cares, be sober, be alert, resist Satan, and stand firm in your faith. If you did not know what God is asking from you, now you know. God said we might suffer for doing what is right, but that is okay because our endurance will find favor with God.

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L. Kathleen Cline

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