Noble Epistle to Dear Siblings in Christ

You are not a doormat! From this mere mortal, saved by grace through faith in Christ, to my sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus, with the boldness of the Spirit I say to you that you have not been called to live your life in the dustbin as if you are worthless, insignificant, useless, or without authentic value. Some of you still live in the ignominy of your past while others of you have been shamed into believing that in order to be genuinely Christian you must live without dignity, decorum, nobility and excellence.

Yes, we have been commanded to live in “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness with self-control;”[1] but we have also been called to live as “children of the light, children of the day.”[2] We have been enjoined to live as “children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.”[3] Yes, we have been taught that we will suffer, but we have also been taught that it is “no longer we who live, but Christ who lives within us,”[4] and Christ Jesus is “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.”[5]

God has called us to be meek and humble, not bleak and weak, “for we have become partners with Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end.”[6] So “be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord our God is with us wherever we go.”[7] Filled with the Spirit of God and heavenly wisdom, “we shall govern peoples, and nations will be subject to us. Dread monarchs shall be afraid of us when they hear of us; among the peoples we will show ourselves capable” of mighty wonders.[8]

Yes, be humble and respectful and deferential, but not afraid. Fear has no place in the Christian life, for “perfect love casts out all fear.”[9] And remember that even though our Lord Jesus the Christ said, “In the world you will have tribulation,” he also said, “but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.”[10] And our Lord also told us, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”[11] This is the one who lives within us, and “if God is for us, who can be against us?”[12] Walk and live in confidence, then – not self-confidence, but Christ-confidence!

And now He who “strengthens your hands for whatever work is to be done,[13] make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you, lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace,[14] and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”[15] Amen and Amen.

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[1] Epistle to the Galatians 5. 22 – 23

[2] First Epistle to the Thessalonians 5. 5

[3] Epistle to the Romans 8. 16 – 17

[4] Epistle to the Galatians 2. 20

[5] First Epistle to Timothy 6. 15

[6] Epistle to the Hebrews 3. 14

[7] Book of Joshua 1. 9

[8] Book of Wisdom 8. 14 – 15

[9] First Epistle of St. John 4. 18

[10] Gospel of St. John 16. 33

[11] Gospel of St. Matthew 28. 18

[12] Epistle to the Romans 8. 31

[13] Book of Nehemiah 6. 9

[14] Book of Numbers 6. 25 – 26

[15] Second Epistle to the Corinthians 13. 14

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Note: Inspired by a blog on Beauty Beyond Bones