Righteousness, peace and joy.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.
Humility, affinity, meekness, hunger for righteousness, merciful, purity, peacem-making.
If someone said that they could create and cultivate a community based on these values, would this be of interest to you?
If someone said that they would embody, express and empower others to live in accordance with these values, would this be of interest to you?
If someone said that they would deliver a rule that would overcome every barrier to experiencing these values to establish a way of life that embrace these values, would this be of interest to you?
Or are you somehow convinced that such an existence is an illusion? Are you persuaded that these are ‘nice’ qualities to have, but ‘reality’ suggests that the ‘human condition’ is fundamentally flawed and incapable of living by them? Are you overwhelmed by experience and news report and video and other means of information that indicates that people are cruel, mean, selfish, ignorant?
There is also the matter to consider that when we look at those values mentioned at the start, these are not commonly promoted values. Schools promote other values. Workplaces promote other values. National identities are founded on other values. Perhaps that has influenced families to promote other values.
This is perhaps what makes the offer of a way of life being founded on these outstanding values so compelling. King Jesus embodied these values. King Jesus expressed these values as the norm. King Jesus empowers those in His rule to live by these values and highlight these more than any other because it reflects what it is to live in the Kingdom of God.
Perhaps some of these values actually pose a threat to what people are comfortable living with. Maybe these values as a whole shine a light of shame on how we pursue values that are substandard.
It is not all about the shame, though. It is about turning the eyes to the King and seeing His invitation to live by Him – live in Him. And as His life flows in us and through us to the world, so these values establish the stark contrast of who rules.
(Photo by Lina Trochez on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 