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One day a friend of mine called ken sheared this experience with me, “It was four in the evening and I was done for the day. I packed up everything and I was ready to go home after a long day’s work. As I was leaving the gate, my senior Mr. James suddenly appeared in his new Noah and he offered me a lift as he was headed the same direction as I was going. I gladly accepted as he was not only a good friend but also one person that I admired. He was well educated, earned a good salary and everything seemed to work out well for him.
He was not alone in the car. He had two of his children. One was a young teenage girl who introduced herself to me as Joan aged between the ages of 13-14 years. The other was a young boy named Joshua who was around the age of 8.Joan was seated next to the father and I entered the back seat where Joshua was. As I was entering the car, Joshua screamed, Dad! Dad! Why is this stranger entering our new car? And immediately the father told him to behave.
As we drove on, he started stepping on me and pushing me away from him saying that I am wearing a cheap perfume and that my shoes as well as my clothes were very old and I resembled the people he saw on television who mommy said come from the slums. As this was not enough, he went on to ask me if I was poor and the reason as to why I didn’t have a car. By this time the father and the sister where shouting at him to behave and all he did was giggle and make faces.
It’s then that I decided to do what every wise man could have done. I reached my destination even though I wasn’t there yet. I just had to come off from this car and I alighted at the next bus stop. As the car drove off, Joshua jumped to the back seat and made faces to me. I totally respected and admired my boss, He is a well learned guy, has good home and everything seems to work out well for him but it’s then that I realized that in spite of all these that he had actually failed in life’s most crucial exam of instilling discipline in his children.
Instructing your children to be disciplined and to conduct themselves is very fundamental. An undisciplined child will not only disrespect you as a parent but also will squander all that you have worked and toiled for in years in an hour. All that he will bring to you is shame and disagrees to you as a parent and your family as a whole. As Christians, we should remember that God is our father and we are His children. Many at times we have behaved like Joshua in our conduct, speech, thoughts and this has in turn brought embarrassment to God our father.
The Bible is full of Joshua’s. Apostle Peter is just one good example. He was no exception. He too was a Joshua at one time:
· In John 18:10 He drew his sword and chopped off Malchus ear doing that which Jesus had cautioned him not to do. How many times have you walked in disobedience before God?
· In John 18:16-26 He denied Jesus three times. You as a Christian how many times have you denied the Lordship of Jesus Christ or our salvation in exchange for worldly pleasures? Bribed that boss that your children may secure that job, bribed that teacher that you may pass you exams, how many times?
· In Galatians 2:11-12 he discriminated the Gentiles and refused to eat with them as he was afraid of criticism. How many times have we discriminated those we know in Oder to obtain favors’ from men?
Thus from his bitter experience, Apostle Peter purposed to change. In 1 Peter3:8-18, he speaks to us about righteous living. How we as Christians should conduct ourselves in and out of season thus avoiding the “Joshua syndrome”. In Mathew 5:48, God expects us to be perfect as He is. This is only possible if we adhere to the timeless principles that Apostle peter gives us. They include:
1. As believers we should be of one mind
We ought to be united pursuing the same goals. In Mathew 28:19-20 Jesus gives the great commission. He commands us to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. This is because baptism unites believers with Jesus Christ in their death to sin and their resurrection to new life. Many are the times we go against each other but we should always remember that we are a team.
2. We should have sympathy/ empathy
As Christians we are not only to share the feelings of our fellow believers but also go an extra mile to fit into their shoes. Mathew 27:32 Simeon of Cyrene demonstrates this by carrying the cross of Jesus. We should be our brother’s keeper
3. Love
We should genuinely love one another as brothers and sisters Mark 12:30-31, “Love the lord with your whole heart and love they neighbor as thyself”.
4. Humility
As Christians we should be humble and be willing to encourage one another and rejoice in each other’s success. Proverbs 16:18-19 (pride goes before a fall and it’s better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud) Pride goes against the fist principle of wisdom, the fear of the lord Proverbs 1:7. Proud people know it all and God hates this
5. Bless them that curse you.
Rise above getting back at those who hurt you by not reacting angrily towards them but pray for them. Revenge in God’s kingdom is unacceptable pray for them and let God deal with them.
6. Control your tongue
James 3:6-12 the uncontrolled tongue can do terrible damage. Satan uses the tongue to divide people. A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that has been built for years. Before you speak remember that word are like fire you can never control nor reverse the damage they can do
If we then as Christians live this kind of life that God requires of us, then He promises us good things.
Blessings for the Righteous 1 Peter 3:12
1. God’s eyes will be over us Psalms 84:11(God will hold no good thing from those who walk uprightly)
2. God will hear our prayers. 1 John 5:15 (God will hear us when we make our request and give us what we ask for thus we should pray with confidence)
3 God will fight and defeat our enemies. Isaiah 66:14(The Lord’s hand will bless His servants and destroy their enemies)
Though we may suffer or be persecuted for doing good and living according to the standards that God has set for us, but we should remember that Romans 8:28 is true provided we take the right attitude Luke 6:22-23 ( be happy when persecuted for Christ’s sake for there is a reward awaiting you in heaven)
