I want to stop fighting and rebelling for the wrong things. God says to fight but for the right things. God’s kingdom is counter-cultural, it goes against all the world tells us we want, need, or are supposed to be, it defies all the worlds logic to gain more, rule more, be more, take more.
Jesus was radical, he loved those unlovable, healed on the sabbath, forgave those who killed him, hung out with the outcasts, washed others feet, had nothing, left his throne to come to earth in the form of a man, always served, loved, forgave, loved his enemies, and cared for the lost. His kingdom, his being, his actions, his words were all radical.
People will wonder how you can love when you should hate, give when you should save, serve when you should lead, forgive when you should punish, befriend when you should attack, move toward when you should retreat. They will say you are crazy, weak, foolish, they may mock you, turn away from you, take advantage of you and even persecute you but they will always be perplexed by you, until they just need to ask why?
THEN you can tell them about the father!
Matthew 20:25-28 (ESV)
25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,[a] 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,[b] 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
God says Fight with us for (you will need our help, of course)
Jesus
To let go, surrender
The widow
Truth in love
Faithfulness
Salvation
Righteousness
The weak
The poor
Single moms
The orphan
The oppressed
The homeless
The outcasts, the forgotten
Freedom
Against sin
Simplicity
To love freely
For forgiveness
Your body, mind and soul
Generosity
For humility
Kindness
Peace
Goodness
Patience
God says Don’t fight for (lay down the sword)
To be right
Justification
For selfish desires
Against authority just to benefit your selfish desires
Against the Holy Spirit
Mankind’s ways
To impress Family, friends, colleagues
Acquire more
Your fair share
Material things
Power
Man’s affirmation
To be first
God says he did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of boldness and courage and strength. He furthermore gave us his spirit to abide in us and said he will do great things through us.
But the key to access God’s power is to surrender to his will, to put on the armor of God, and follow the plan he has for us. Like a great military General, God has the strategy all laid out. The battle is for our souls, the goal is to fight off all attacks that try to stop us from loving God and his people.
Are you ready for battle, do you know now what you are fighting for?
#JustaThought
