He’s Watching – Does He expect perfection? Yes? No?
Heads Up – Builders Men’s Ministry may continue 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24, then we stop for the summer! We are checking out the possibilities and will let you know soon.
Just so you know.
We are planning a campout and trip to a baseball game this summer for our men. Details to come.
Look at the way Peter describes God’s expectations of us Jesus-followers:
Our Passage for Builders Men’s Ministry on April 26, 2022: I Peter 3:8-14
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded,be sympathetic, love one another,be compassionate and humble.9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[a]
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[b]; do not be frightened.”[c]
Our loving actions will most often be appreciated, just as we are so grateful when others treat us with love and respect, but sometimes they are ignored. And at times we may be asked to suffer for doing what God commands and expects of us. Have you ever been in situations where you showed love and kindness, but evil, insult, or punishment was returned? Peter addresses that case in verse 13.
Just as we parents/grandparents/teachers would never say to our kids, “Today, I expect you to obey me only 75% of the time”; likewise, our Father in heaven commands and empowers us to grow into children of God who are learning to willing obey Him more and more. Maybe we won’t ever get to 100% perfect and completely constant obedience, but just as we are blessed as our children grow in willing obedience and trust of us as authorities, so I believe our Heavenly Father is pleased to see us grow too.
Jesus is and always will be my perfection and has brought grace and righteousness to me as a gift.
Romans 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
Hey, men, let’s obey God each day to the best of our ability, and when we stumble and fall, let’s confess our sins, receive God’s forgiveness, then get back in the race. Let’s run the race to win the prize. Let’s please our Father, Who loves us perfectly, blesses us in every way He plans, and disciplines only as we need to be corrected
Lean In:
What is the purpose of disciplining/correcting children? What are the most commonly used methods of discipline that you observe in our culture today? How are we doing at helping children respect authority? When do most people figure out that healthy discipline is a good thing not a bad thing? When do most adults finally associate proper discipline with love? How are conflicts handled/resolved in homes? … and in businesses?
Look Down:
What does Peter write in the verses of 1 Peter 3: 8-14 as the ways we are to obey God and treat others? What is God’s position regarding those who “do evil”? How does He respond to the prayers of the righteous? How are we to handle it when we are wronged even when we are right? How do these commanded behaviors contrast with what you most commonly observe in culture?
Look Out:
What have you noticed to be the common responses when men are wronged or believe they have been wronged? Where are the greatest tests of patience and proper responses to wrongs suffered? What methods of correcting behavior do you see in the workplace when employees mess up? Have you seen conflict resolved in a healthy, successful way? What did it look like?
Look In:
How were you corrected/disciplined when you messed up as a child? Was it effective? Was it healthy? Do you or did you correct children the same way or differently? Have you ever been falsely accused? How did you respond? How was conflict handled in your home of origin? What did you learn from those methods? Have you ever seen conflict resolved in a successful way? What form did successful conflict resolution take? Have you seen confession and forgiveness as part of conflict resolution? Could/should it be?
Take It Outside:
- Are there those with whom you need to resolve a lingering conflict?
- Are you willing to try?
- What do you think it would take to find resolution?
- Are there parts of the conflict you don’t control?
- Would it be helpful if you initiated contact and/or confession?
- What difference would it make if you forgave the other person before or even if they don’t ask?
- Do you believe that one person can be free of the stress even if the other won’t participate in the reconciliation plan?