Answer: Yes
At the start of this chapter Paul asks: Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love?
The answer is yes. If you're a Christian you probably thought that answer yes because that's kind of the "correct" answer. But think about it. Is life more encouraging if you're a Christian? There's a lot of reasons to answer "no". We have way more responsibility, we are called to live counter culturally which often leads to paying us out or thinking we're weird. In some places you can be on the receiving end of violence. You have to obey God's law and the local law! Now that's just plain unfair surely?
Thing is. It's love and grace and caring for others and patience and all that other stuff that, when we inject it into each area of our loves, somehow begins to transform it for the better. When I was a teenager and grappling with the whole God thing, one thing kept me going through a lot of doubts and temptations. You know that commandment where God says to love other people in the ways you would like to be loved? I think it's reasonably famous. Thing is, that one sentence - if everyone did that, the world would be way, way better than it is today.
Since then I've delved into God's teaching even more. His commands for practical, day to day living are superb. The advice on how deal with a conflict (one on one, then three on one etc...) is seriously the best way to deal with conflict and disagreement.
And then add the Holy Spirit in. He loves it when we live like Jesus. We uses our Jesus-like behavior to transform situations and relationships.
So the answer is Yes. Just take the time to think about it and then stay/get on board with God's way of doing life.
Created over 2 years ago
