"If with heart and soul you're doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you're still better off. Don't give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath. It's better to suffer for doing good, if that's what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That's what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others' sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God." 1 Peter 3:13-18 (Message)
I was led to this verse today, and man is it good!! All things in my life are so obviously leading me to this place of BOLD Christianity. So lets start by answering the question in this verse, "If with heart and soul (I) am doing good, do (I) think (I) can be stopped?" My heart screams 'NO' and my mind says 'Yes'... I'm gonna stick with my heart on this one. And reading on, the question is answered for us, "It's better to suffer for doing good, if that's what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad." So answering with my heart was the right way to go, my head will bring all the worldly fears and obstacles into my decision. If Christ is living inside me, and he longs to make my heart like his, than I should always trust my heart. We are also told, "Don't give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master." It is so easy to loose focus, setting Christ aside. If our hearts loose their attention on Christ, then how can we be bold like lions? But if we stay focused on our love for Christ, then no, we can not be stopped!!
Part of Christianity is sharing the good news, easy for some and REALLY hard for others. I have had so much sucess with this and I think it is because I bring it up with gentleness and respect. No one will ever gain an audience with hatred, judgement or anger. In our verse Peter says, "Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy." But we have to live a certain way in order for people to start asking. The more brightly we shine our light the more we will get people to notice. Once they notice they will then stop and start asking questions.
The end of this verse affirms what Christ did for us, in order for us to know God. Now we can do this for others... doing good with a heart and soul focused on Christ will lead to an upstanding life, living an upstanding life will give you the platform, but using the platform appropriatly will determine who will stay and listen.
I hope your listening little lions....
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