Guided by Christ: Navigating Suffering and Politics

Devotional

Day 1: Christ's Guidance in Political Tension

In times of political tension, it is essential to let Christ guide your actions and conversations. This involves trusting in His peace and remembering that our ultimate mission is to love and do good, regardless of political outcomes. The world will continue to turn regardless of election results, and our focus should remain on embodying love and goodness. By allowing Christ to lead, we can navigate political complexities with grace and maintain our commitment to His teachings. [00:39]

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you allow Christ to guide your conversations today, especially in discussions that may become politically charged?

Day 2: Understanding Suffering and God's Will

Suffering is a complex issue that challenges our understanding of God's will. Rather than seeing God as the cause of all events, it is important to recognize the interplay of human freedom, spiritual forces, and chaos. This perspective invites us to trust in God's redemptive work amidst suffering. The world is a battlefield where God's will, human will, the will of others, spiritual beings, and chaos intersect. This complexity requires us to acknowledge that not everything happens for a reason, and that suffering is often the result of these conflicting wills. [05:19]

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you trust in God's redemptive work in your life, even when faced with suffering?

Day 3: The Role of Free Will

The world is shaped by the free will of humans and spiritual beings. While God desires cooperation and love, the presence of evil results from choices that oppose His will. This understanding calls us to align our actions with God's desires and resist the influence of evil. By acknowledging the role of free will, we can better understand the presence of suffering and evil in the world and strive to make choices that reflect God's love and goodness. [12:34]

"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15, ESV)

Reflection: What choices can you make today to align your actions with God's desires and resist the influence of evil?

Day 4: Responding to Evil with Good

Peter instructs believers to repay evil with blessing and to act with courage and imagination in the face of mistreatment. This radical response reflects Jesus' example and challenges us to live lives that glorify God through our good deeds. By responding to evil with good, we participate in God's redemptive work and demonstrate His love to the world. This approach requires courage and a commitment to living out the teachings of Jesus, even in difficult circumstances. [31:39]

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively choose to respond to a specific situation of mistreatment or evil with goodness and blessing today?

Day 5: Practicing Hope in Suffering

Hope is not mere optimism but a defiant courage to trust in God's ultimate victory over evil. By being good to one another, doing good in the face of evil, and clinging to the good news, we cultivate a resilient hope that endures suffering and anticipates God's kingdom. This hope is rooted in the belief that Jesus' sacrifice has secured the ultimate victory over evil, and we are called to participate in God's redemptive work by living lives that reflect His love and goodness. [40:51]

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:7-9, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you practice hope today, even in the midst of personal suffering or challenges?

Sermon Summary

In the midst of a politically charged season, it's crucial to let Christ guide our actions, conversations, and emotions. As we navigate the complexities of voting and political discourse, we must remember to seek peace and trust in God's sovereignty. The world will continue to turn regardless of election outcomes, and our mission remains to embody love and goodness. This perspective is rooted in the teachings of 1 Peter, a letter addressed to Gentile Christians in Asia Minor, who were experiencing displacement and oppression. Peter's message is particularly relevant today as it addresses the theme of suffering, a universal human experience that prompts us to question the presence of an all-powerful, all-good God amidst evil and pain.

The concept of meticulous providence, which suggests that every event is orchestrated by God, is challenged by the reality of suffering. Instead, a more nuanced understanding of God's will is proposed, one that acknowledges human freedom and the presence of evil. The world is a battlefield where God's will, human will, the will of others, spiritual beings, and chaos intersect. This complexity requires us to recognize that not everything happens for a reason, and that suffering is often the result of these conflicting wills.

Peter encourages believers to respond to suffering by being good to one another, doing good in the face of evil, and clinging to the good news of Jesus Christ. This involves fostering a community of compassion and humility, repaying evil with blessing, and maintaining hope in the face of adversity. The ultimate victory over evil has been secured through Jesus' sacrifice, and we are called to participate in God's redemptive work by living lives that reflect His love and goodness.

Key Takeaways

1. Let Christ Guide Your Actions: In times of political tension, allow Christ to lead your decisions and conversations. Trust in His peace and remember that our ultimate mission is to love and do good, regardless of political outcomes. [00:39]
2. Understanding Suffering and God's Will: Suffering is a complex issue that challenges our understanding of God's will. Rather than seeing God as the cause of all events, recognize the interplay of human freedom, spiritual forces, and chaos. This perspective invites us to trust in God's redemptive work amidst suffering. [05:19]
3. The Role of Free Will: The world is shaped by the free will of humans and spiritual beings. While God desires cooperation and love, the presence of evil results from choices that oppose His will. This understanding calls us to align our actions with God's desires and resist the influence of evil. [12:34]
4. Responding to Evil with Good: Peter instructs believers to repay evil with blessing and to act with courage and imagination in the face of mistreatment. This radical response reflects Jesus' example and challenges us to live lives that glorify God through our good deeds. [31:39]
5. Practicing Hope in Suffering: Hope is not mere optimism but a defiant courage to trust in God's ultimate victory over evil. By being good to one another, doing good in the face of evil, and clinging to the good news, we cultivate a resilient hope that endures suffering and anticipates God's kingdom. [40:51]
** [40:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:39] - Christ's Guidance in Politics
[02:26] - Suffering in 1 Peter
[03:40] - The Question of Why
[05:19] - Reconciling God and Suffering
[06:32] - Meticulous Providence
[08:20] - Theodicy and Trust Issues
[09:20] - God's Will vs. Death
[10:40] - Freedom and Choice
[12:34] - Evil and Free Will
[13:31] - God's War Against Evil
[14:36] - The Lord's Prayer and God's Will
[15:56] - Suffering and God's Redemptive Work
[17:26] - Human Responsibility in Suffering
[18:29] - The Will of Others
[19:48] - Spiritual Beings and Evil
[21:58] - Spiritual Warfare
[23:16] - Chaos and Random Chance
[25:47] - Peter's Instructions for Suffering
[26:40] - Be Good to One Another
[30:08] - Responding to Evil with Good
[33:16] - Clinging to the Good News
[35:31] - The Hope of Resurrection
[37:48] - God's Kingdom and Hope
[40:51] - Practicing Hope in Suffering

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What are the key instructions Peter gives to believers in 1 Peter 3:8-18 regarding how to respond to suffering and evil?
How does the sermon describe the concept of "meticulous providence," and what are its implications for understanding suffering? [06:32]
According to the sermon, what are the five wills in conflict on Earth, and how do they contribute to the complexity of suffering? [14:36]
How does the sermon use the example of Jesus' suffering and resurrection to encourage believers in their own experiences of suffering? [35:31]

Interpretation Questions

In what ways does the sermon suggest that believers can let Christ guide their actions and conversations during politically charged times? [00:39]
How does the sermon challenge the idea that "everything happens for a reason," and what alternative understanding of God's will is proposed? [08:20]
What role does free will play in the presence of evil and suffering, according to the sermon, and how should this influence a believer's response to adversity? [12:34]
How does the sermon interpret the phrase "your kingdom come, your will be done" in the context of spiritual warfare and the presence of evil? [14:36]

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent political conversation you had. How did you let Christ guide your words and actions, and what might you do differently next time? [00:39]
When faced with suffering, how do you typically respond? How can you incorporate the sermon’s perspective on God’s will and suffering into your response? [05:19]
Identify a situation where you have the opportunity to repay evil with good. What specific action can you take to bless someone who has wronged you? [31:39]
Consider a time when you felt overwhelmed by chaos or random events. How can you practice hope and trust in God’s ultimate victory in such situations? [40:51]
How can you foster a community of compassion and humility in your church or small group, as Peter instructs? What practical steps can you take this week? [26:40]
Think of a person in your life who is suffering. How can you be a source of hope and encouragement to them, reflecting the love and goodness of Christ? [41:32]
What specific aspect of your life do you need to surrender to God’s will, trusting in His redemptive work amidst suffering and evil? [39:02]

Sermon Clips

1. "Sometime on Monday, Corbin and Danny have been working on just a prayer liturgy for you to walk through. If you just find yourself, your chest tightening, yourself getting anxious, our encouragement would be just to take a few moments and engage with the Lord, engage with the Spirit, be reminded that whatever happens on Tuesday, that the world will keep spinning, and that our job will be to get back to the business of love and goodness, regardless of who's in office. So take a breath. It will be all right." [00:00:39] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "If you hear nothing else from this teaching, hear this. Death isn't God's will. God is at war with death. Yet so many have misconstrued God's will as this cause. Cosmic determination. That every event that unfolds is according to God's design, plans, and ideas. However, I think a better way of understanding God's will is as what God wants or what God desires." [00:10:03] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Along with many other theologians and scholars, I believe that while God is all-powerful, while God is all-good and all-knowing, he has also created a world of freedom and choice. That humans and spiritual beings, more on that here in a minute, can partner or can rebel. This is to say that the world God created is free. It is wonderful. It is wild. It is strange. And maybe most importantly, it is dangerous." [00:11:39] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The Bible seems to tell a story of God being at war with this evil one, and that by the suffering, love, and sacrifice of his son Jesus, and through his family, those of us who would follow the way of Jesus, that our God is working to end evil once and for all and to usher in his kingdom. But between now and then, planet Earth is a battlefield. The site of a war with casualties all around us." [00:13:41] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "So in a world of immense suffering and evil, Peter gives three specific instructions about suffering well and revealing God's glory. Three instructions. Be good to one another. Do good in the face of evil. And cling to the good news." [00:26:41] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "You and I know the hardship of walking planet earth. We know the toll of sickness, accidents, hurt, and death, and in light of our suffering, let us be good to one another. Let's be generous with our hugs. Warm in our greetings. Quick to offer a meal. Quick to come to the aid of another. Church, let us be good to one another." [00:30:03] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Peter is drawing on Jesus's example and offers a wild way of responding to evil, by doing good. These are not instructions in spineless passivity. These are instructions to act with courage and imagination, choosing goodness when you've been mistreated." [00:31:28] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Hope is a defiant courage to endure whatever may come because our God will vindicate his people. His will done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. My hope for this community is that we be a community of gritty hope. Hope that endures suffering by being good to one another. Hope that endures suffering by doing good to those who give us evil." [00:41:12] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "We gain hope not from the darkness of our own suffering not from pat answers in books but from the God who sees our suffering and shares our pain. Our hope is not just that our suffering will end but that our God is making all things new." [00:42:08] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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