Dearly Beloved,

Scripture clearly teaches us that by nature we are not worthy of any of the blessings that we receive.  We are nothing and less than nothing and deserve by our nature the worst this life has to offer.  However, scripture is also clear that we have been made accepted in the beloved and our status as such has changed in this life.  This week as I reflect upon the issues of this life and try to communicate with you through this letter I am led to consider this verse:

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;” (1 Peter 2:9)

Most of us work in a secular profession, if not currently we did not too long ago, or we function in secular circles.  In those settings, we are made to feel as though we are not valued and that our best efforts are never considered good enough.  I heard it said recently that often jobs turn us from people with skills to mules just to carry another load.  When our secular life turns in this direction it is difficult to not become discouraged about life in general.

It is in those times that we should remember that the way our secular relations (bosses, friends, family, colleagues, etc..) view us is in reality all together unimportant.

Yes, we all need a job and a paycheck.  Yes, in this economy we should feel blessed to be able to have employment and earn a paycheck.  Yes, we should do our best in our job and it would be nice to have a boss that recognized the work we do.  That being said — I don’t buy into the philosophy that we should be so happy to get a paycheck that we are not bothered by the way we are treated in that job.  When we are treated poorly we have a right to be upset, expect more, and hope and pray for better.

Yes, we should all strive to be good friends and family members.  We should all strive to support those in our lives and love them with a deep and passionate love that is expressed through our actions.  Yes, we should pray for them and care for them to the best of our ability.  That being said — I don’t buy into the philosophy that our love should make us a mental or physical punching bag.  Love and being a Christian is not defined by how much we can absorb.  Sometimes the truest form of love is expressed in being strong enough to stand up.

So if that is the case, why is their view of us unimportant?  Because there is a greater one than any in this world and He views us as a chosen people, as a royal priesthood, and as a holy nation.  We are set aside as people that are peculiar to this world.  We are viewed as righteous because of His love and grace.  When your boss, friend, colleague, spouse, family member or other person in your secular life views you as the lowest in their world, remember that Christ has called you his friend.  You might be the lowest in your world, but you are a joint heir with Christ in HIS world.  So how much does that other persons view really mean — sounds like not a whole lot in the long run.

From the Desk of the Pastor,

May the Lord Bless you is our prayer — Elder J.W. Cunningham