Daily Lesson for December 1, 2017

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from 1 Peter chapter 3 verses 13 through 17:

13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, 15but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you;16yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil.

Jesus said, “If the light in you be darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matthew 6:23).

Those who long and work for a better and more just world are beautiful in spirit and blessed by God. For as Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice,” (Matthew 5:6).

They are blessed indeed; and they are also perpetually at risk of bitterness and despair and the sins which follow.

Sometimes we can become so put out, frustrated, and angry with the way the world is and is not we can end up reaching a breaking point, the point of crossing a line. The light in us can be turned to darkness. 

Ephesians says, “In your anger, do not sin,” (Ephesians 4:26). To be angry at the world and the way it is is understandable. But to cross the line is not good. And to have the light in us turned to darkness and to be willing to do dark things for the sake of victory is not good either. If we allow ourselves to become beasts in fighting the beast then beastliness has won. 

Today’s Lesson tells us to remain gentle and reverent and keep our consciences clear. This is a reminder that in our own efforts to cleanse the world of its transgressions, we need very much also to be constantly seeking to purify ourselves of our own.

Dr. King said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Or, as Paul put it, we cannot allow ourselves to be “overcome by evil” but must “overcome evil with good”.

We are to overcome the evil that is in the world — and also the evil that is in us.