Not Like Men In Trees

1 Peter 1:21-2:17

A couple weeks ago, I saw a story on the news about some students at UC-Berkeley who have been camping out in trees on campus for quite some time in an effort to protect the trees. The University has decided to cut down those trees and put up a new building there (and has promised to plant three trees for each one they cut down for the project). But a small group of students believe the trees should not be sacrificed for the University's plans for growth, and they have even attacked the police sent to get them out of the trees. The case went to court, and the students' behavior was defended as an expression of free speech. But the judge ruled against the students, saying that their tree-sitting protest is not a protected expression of free speech and that they would have to vacate the trees. In response, one of the students on camera said something like, "If they think I'm going to leave, just because some judge said I should, they don't know me. That's not how I work. This isn't over, yet."

Have you ever acted like this Berkeley student? Ever believed that the rules didn't apply to you, because you were following some higher standard? I know I have. Sometimes we disagree with those in authority over us because we voted for the other person. Sometimes, we convince ourselves that they have to earn our respect before we give it. Sometimes it's because we've been at our job longer than our boss, and we know his way won't work well.

God, through Peter, tells us: For the Lord's sake, respect all human authority - whether the king as head of state or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. It is God's will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God's slaves, so don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone and love your Christian brothers and sisters.

When Peter wrote this, he was living in a place ruled by a tyrannical dictator, and many of Jesus' followers were imprisoned or killed before "the ignorant people who made foolish accusations against them" were silenced. God doesn't give us a lot of wiggle room here. We are not to wait until the authorities in our lives earn our respect before we give it to them. We are to honor those authorities as servants of God, even when they don't act like it. It's a challenging thing for us, especially in a country where we have the freedom and responsibility to speak out. But as we speak and conduct ourselves in society, we are responsible to do so not just as individuals but as followers of Christ.

May the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen us, so that we might "Fear God, and respect the king" for God's glory.

Three years ago, on Thanksgiving Day, my dad and I sang together for the last time in this life.  He was scheduled to go in for cancer surgery which would result in the removal of an entire lung, and I knew how hard it was going to be for him to never sing again.  That day, with tears in my eyes, my sister-in-law played the piano as we sang these words:

 

Why do I feel discouraged, why do the shadows come?

Why does my heart feel lonely, and long for heaven and home?

When Jesus is your portion, a constant friend is He

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me

 

So I sing because I'm happy, and I sing because I'm free

His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me

 

I thought of those words and of that day when I read today's passage from 1 Peter about enduring hardship.   This Thanksgiving, despite the joy of family reunions, good food, football and shopping, some in our church family will nonetheless be clinging for dear life to Peter's words about the glorious, inexpressible joy that will follow the trials of this life.  In the midst of refreshing laughter and reminiscing, fleeting thoughts will go towards those who are missing from the celebration - the prodigals, those who have gone to be with the Lord, and those who are simply unable to come home. 

 

The ultimate Thanksgiving Day and the penultimate feast will one day be ours when our faith is in Christ.  We are to live with a great expectation of a priceless inheritance - an inheritance kept in heaven for us, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. Peter wrote that our many trials last but a little while and that there is wonderful joy to come.

 

I want to live with that kind of great expectation; don't you?  I need to remember that we are foreigners in the land.....and that the great glory is yet to come.  And through our faith, God is protecting us by His power until we receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

 

My dad is singing today.  Many of your loved ones are with him, giving thanks and enjoying a banquet fit for The King.  So be truly glad - there is wonderful joy ahead.

 

Karen Peikert

 

Life Lessons

We begin with cautions to rich people.  Just a minute!  Is James writing to folks like the readers of these lessons?  Rich?  What do you mean by rich?  Well, I have to admit that most of us do have quite a lot of money, comforts, and things.  Maybe we need to remember to put is this way: Compared to whom?  To other folks doing well?  To really needy people around the world?  Do we love money and things too much?  Let’s not just skip over this part of our lesson.  We are not only to hear His Word, but also to heed His Word, you know.  Ask yourself - what can I do to really help folks in real need?  Then do it!  John Wesley wrote in his dairy, “Lord, help me to do it now…before my heart gets cold.”

v. 7 – Am I living in wait for the Lord’s return?  V. 8 – In what way do you understand that the Lord’s return is near.  V. 10 – Suffering for the faith.  Maybe I will experience that…someday.  Am I willing?  V. 16 – What is the role of confession?  Both confession to others and especially confession to the Lord?  James writes, “pray with each other”, do you do that?  v. 19 – We are to bring back to the Lord those who have strayed.  How much do I really care about folks who are strayed?  Lord, help me to be more fully committed to You and Your service.

 

Donald E. Pardun

 

Showing Favoritism

As a student I worked behind the front desk in the library.  One evening a fellow student approached wearing a suit & tie.  I thought her comes a nice fellow.  He was rude, arrogant, and his speech was, well, less than gracious.  Moments later I was approached by another student who had long messy hair, sloppy clothing.  I thought her comes trouble.  He proved to be a very pleasant young man.  As he walked away the Spirit of God spoke to me.  I was judging by appearances, and it was wrong.

 

Although I was polite to both, my heart gave me away.  God’s love for both these young men was the same.  I was showing favoritism, I was the quinte essential hypocrite, and it was sin.  It is the same today.  Lord, give me the wisdom of heart to see others through your eyes.

Steve Louden