Battles Fought In Love

Battles Fought In Love

Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should
follow in his steps. 1 Pet 2:21

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1 Peter 2:11-25 (New International Version)

11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

18Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

22"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

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The story is told of the people of Britain standing at dockside one dreary day.
One of their large battleships had been engaged in battle during the past week.
They watched as the old ship came into view on the horizon. With painfully slow
progress, it approached the harbour and the dock. People lined the shore.

Horror struck the spectators as they saw the gaping holes in its hull. Some of the
superstructure was totally destroyed. Its engines were barely able to move
the giant warrior into its berth.

The sailors were standing at attention on the shattered decks. Drawn to full
attention and dressed in their best uniforms, they proudly showed their flag
as the sound of the national anthem filled the air.

Sometimes we see those who have been in battle for the cause of Jesus Christ,
people who have ventured where others feared to go. From distant outposts to
brothels, soup kitchens and shanty towns, men and women have answered a call to
reach out with the love of Christ to those who are trapped in despair. Some of these
people have been wounded in the process. They are only a shadow of the man or
woman they were when they began their ministry. Beaten down,
misunderstood and criticized, they plod on.

They often are in need of foot washing. When working in the difficult places,
there is much that can rub off and soil them. Jesus took a moment, as a servant,
to wash His disciples’ feet. They were clean but their feet had been in contact
with the dusty trails and pathways. Their feet needed washing.

I wonder how many of our brothers and sisters in Christ have been criticized for
the mud they have picked up in their journey. I wonder how many craved the loving
touch of someone like you or me to help them wash the mud from their lives.
Instead, we might have been quick to point the finger of judgement at them,
thus further wounding them.

May God help you and me in the days ahead to be slow to judge and quick to assist
when we see our brothers or sisters fail to meet the standards expected. We need to
consider what challenges that person has faced and understand his heart
before we dispense our advice.

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Lord, I must admit that I have been unnecessarily critical of some of my Christian
friends. I have observed their mistakes and I have sometimes been guilty of adding
further guilt to their lives rather than seeking to assist them in love. Help me to
balance discernment with love so that I can assist others without
coming across as being judgmental. Amen.

- Noel Churchman

Noel was the Executive Director of Christian Horizons form 1976 to 2001. The devotionals we will be using are from a book he wrote in 2005 called “Walking with God”. Noel’s reflections are grounded in his experiences as an educator, and provider of supports for individuals with exceptional needs as well as his life as a dedicated follower of Christ.