Cultivating Brotherly KindnessBy José Maldonado
Anytime we immerse ourselves in the words of the apostle Peter in his second letter, it feels as if we're embarking on a quest, expecting that a treasure chest will be waiting at the end. Peter has a specific destination in mind as he guides us along this path. In his first letter, he began by helping us realize we already possess a precious gift. "... and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love." 2 Peter 1:7 In his second letter, Peter directly urges us to be kind to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. While our spiritual journey might initially seem individualistic—focusing on adding knowledge, self-control, and godliness to our faith—Peter now redirects our stare outward, emphasizing the importance of looking to others. However, it's not merely a matter of looking; we find ourselves challenged to show kindness, specifically brotherly kindness. This distinction is crucial. It calls us to treat everyone as part of our spiritual family, regardless of our familiarity with them. No differences, no favoritism. When we discover we've progressed on this journey even while navigating life's complexities, we've reached a significant milestone. The apostle Peter doesn't leave us wondering about the treasure waiting at the end of our spiritual rainbow; he reveals it to us—it's love. Love, the most powerful commandment of all. Jesus Himself made this clear when asked about the greatest commandments: "Love the Lord your God" and "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-38). Having walked this path before us, Peter is intimately familiar with its challenges and pitfalls. He understands that along the journey, we are to grow in knowledge and godliness and our love for one another. It's the culmination of our spiritual growth, the treasure we find at the end of the rainbow. As we reach this summit of love, we ought to remember that love knows no boundaries. It encompasses all! In extending brotherly kindness and love to those traveling with us on this spiritual journey, we mirror God's love and fulfill the greatest commandment. Guarding Against EnvyBy José Maldonado
"He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them." (Mark 6:5 NIV) Mark presents us with a dilemma and forces us to do some self-assessment. He makes sure that we can see the profound impact of faith and the destructive nature of envy and jealousy. This verse reminds us that faith is a crucial component in experiencing God's miracles and that it can be badly compromised when we envy what others have or jealously protect what we think we are entitled to have. Imagine the scene in Jesus' hometown of Nazareth. He returned, teaching with wisdom and power and leaving the people in awe. However, something shifted in the minds of those people. Instead of focusing on Jesus and His teachings, the majority turned their gaze to themselves. I have to admit that I have been guilty of doing that. It was as if those people questioned, "Why did his family end up with such a remarkable teacher while our family did not?" Envy, that sickening emotion reared its ugly head. Envy is like a pandemic virus, starting with one individual and rapidly spreading. Left unchecked, it can overtake an entire family or community. Envy clouds our judgment and often leads us to forgo blessings and even miracles. Jealousy makes us hide, thinking that in that way, we can protect what we have. We foolishly trade the opportunity to witness God's extraordinary works for the fleeting satisfaction of putting others down or hiding what we have. We refuse to lift others up if it means they might shine brighter than us. Yet, consider the absurdity of this choice. We miss out on amazing divine surprises and miracles in our quest to diminish others or hide. While the rest of the world benefits from God's blessings, we are left empty-handed. We must learn to recognize and acknowledge envy the moment it rears its head and nip it in the bud. We must remind ourselves that receiving God's blessings and divine surprises far outweighs the poisonous attraction of envy. The moment we allow envy or jealousy to enter our lives, we risk our very own well-being. We need to quickly shift our focus to count our blessings and embrace an attitude that welcomes God's upcoming blessings. Instead of allowing envy to sow discord and hinder our faith, we ought to choose the path of gratitude, where miracles can unfold and God's abundant divine surprises can freely flow into our lives. A Transformation JourneyBy José Maldonado
Our spiritual journey begins with a pivotal moment—the decision to have Faith in Jesus Christ. It's the starting point of our eternal adventure, a journey we may not initially perceive as a journey. Without Faith, we possess only head knowledge, but actual life transformation begins when we believe. We've often been led to think that Faith is the end of our journey as Christians. Faith is not the end; it's the start. Once we embrace Faith, we step into a new dimension of existence. Life's challenges may not disappear, but now we have divine assistance and no longer confront difficulties alone. We are under a new level of protection, "so are you in My hand" (Jeremiah 18:6). Our spiritual exploration ends when we intentionally make Jesus Christ the master of our lives. "Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge." (2 Peter 1:5). Faith becomes the foundation on which we can now start building our new lives. Our next step on the journey is to ask God to guide us towards moral excellence. We transition from passive observers of our Faith to active participants in a transformation journey by following Jesus' example in everything we do. The adventure continues, so we don't stop at moral excellence. At this point in our journey, we have momentum and need to keep going. Our journey continues, leading us toward knowledge that goes beyond mere intellectual understanding. We are now getting to the sweet spot! We now gain a profound awareness of God's ways, enabling us to understand how to please Him with our actions. I encourage you to reflect on your faith journey now; don't put it off. Take intentional steps to embrace moral excellence as a response to your Faith. Pursue a more profound knowledge of God. Remember, Faith is just the beginning, and our journey unfolds as we add moral excellence and knowledge of God to it. It's a path filled with growth, discovery, divine surprises, and a profound relationship with our Creator. Unveiling Our Divine Purpose
By José Maldonado Engaging in the Lord's work is not a venture for the faint-hearted. It's a unique calling, intricately designed around the gifts and abilities the Lord has intertwined into the fabric of each of us. While perfectly suited for us, responding wholeheartedly to this divine calling and the divine surprises within is often challenging. If we view life's goals through a business lens, dedicating ourselves to the Lord's work might be considered one of the most challenging career paths. It begs the question: why choose a path that often feels like scary terrain? Why not opt for something more comfortable and less demanding? We can find the answer to those questions in the encounter between the risen Lord Jesus and the apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. When Paul asked, "Who are you, Lord?" he received an answer that resounds through the ages. Jesus didn't merely answer the question to reveal His identity; He unveiled Paul's divine purpose. This answer likely shook Paul's worldview. His purpose was to become an instrument of transformation and lead souls to instead of away from Christ. But Paul's question didn't have to end there. It would have been perfectly understandable if he had asked, "What about the obstacles I'll face? I was one of those obstacles." Yet, the Lord preemptively responded to Paul, "I will rescue you." (Acts 26:17) This promise also extends to all of us when we choose to answer His call. Most of us have learned that choosing the path of the Lord's work isn't about opting for an easy journey. But, it gets a bit easier when we realize that it's rather about aligning with God's master plan. Why craft a life based on our limited understanding when we can step into a purpose designed by the Creator Himself? Once we get to the 'knowing' that the Almighty God, with power over the entire universe, pledges to rescue us when obstacles threaten us, what reason could we possibly come up with that would stand against the call? So, with a firm understanding of our divine purpose, we start looking for His divine surprises. Then, it is time to walk the path courageously and do what we know we are created to do but have been afraid to pursue. The Lord's certainty is our steady foundation. |
AuthorDr. Lori Maldonado works as a passionate keynote speaker, is the author of several books and is the co-creator of the Teach One to Lead One philosophy. She is an avid spokeswoman for the cause of transforming at-risk youth into responsible citizens. Dr. Lori balances her time between the management of her successful non-profit organization, invitations to speak to audiences throughout the world, and Biblical Coaching. Archives
February 2025
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