Breaking up is painful. Being left by someone or people is as good as being rejected in public. Nobody likes to break up. When people who were once identified as being together, end up parting ways, whatever the reasons, it is sad!
What could be the litmus test of faith? What could be the litmus test of our relationship with God? Our text today expounds on this and emphasizes it in the clearest ways possible. How we treat others will be a subject of final judgment. It is the litmus test of our spiritual life.
While the rest of the unconverted world and fake Christians are trembling about Illuminati, devil worship and bad eyes from witches, Christians move on undisturbed. If it wasn’t for Jesus, you would be visiting shrines half naked deep in the night to seek divine favors. Now you can’t pause to pray in your cosy room? Aren’t you abusing your freedom?
Provocation is bound to happen and is happening. Provocation will come from people who are outside the church and even from the seemingly holiest in the church. Since it is those who do good who are provoked, Apostle Peter advises us to keep doing the good that has triggered the provocation.
You have poor and rich relatives, how do you treat them? When a poor person denies himself some privilege and gives it to the rich or rich-looking person, it is wrong. Obeying parents is not showing favoritism. Obeying leaders and showing them due respect is not favoristism. Special treatment of some over others devalues humanity and places value on wealth or whatever else we consider important enough if a person had it.
Any profits made out of unfair abuse of people is a curse. Seek consent while allowing the other person to say no and you don’t take offense. Seeking consent is not a formality to nicely force people below you to make decisions they would ideally not make
What can go wrong with your relationships? How will you feel when there is divorce and break up? How do you get secured against break up or against the pain of break up? Have a plan that doesn’t force the other person to be your friend and doesn’t harm them for rejecting you. That plan is what we call self-control.
Sexual immorality is one of those things we should not get entangled in. The Bible says not even a hint. The Bible says to flee from it. Do not get entangled in trending sex scandals or nude pictures during rounds. Do not get entangled in scandals of dying during the act of sexual immorality because of using sex-enhancing drugs. Do not get entangled. What are you entangled in?
Your disagreement with your neighbors must now end. It is enough. Your spouse has known they were wrong, it is enough. Your worker now knows what should be done, it is enough. We now know you are the boss, it is enough. You have proved that you have power and authority, it is now enough. Your child or parent or friend has learned the lesson. It is enough!