Treat the Rich and the Poor Impartially

Many Faces of Wisdom Faith and Wisdom in James Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)    Hearing and Doing the Word 1 Peter 3:13-19 New International Version 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[a]; do not be frightened.”[b] 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive,[c] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— For Reflection If God is for you, who can be against you? Lotsa people!  When one does the Word the consequences are not always rosy. Sometimes scriptural misinterpretation leads to all kinds of unintended consequences. Sometimes the results of our efforts just don't take hold. The worst outcome is persecution. The least that can happen is that few respond. Walking the walk with Jesus requires courage, the strength to face failure. Have heart, though. God will turn all failure into success. Over the history of the Creation, God in God's own time has led us to grow in grace. Through us, God has worked wondrous advances in science and philosophy. Believers seem to grow into Grace a little more quickly than non-believers. But all people evolve toward Grace. If we look, we can find God's will accomplished in and through the best of us and the worst of us. God created us and called us GOOD! Pray Spend more time in prayer and contemplation and see the Creation more clearly than through a dark mirror of living into the clear realities of the will of God. Forward to a friend