A Quiet(er) Life

There's been quite a bit of shouting going on lately. It's an election year, so of course that factors in, but that's just part of it. There's also been a lot of shouting matches going on in the family of faith. Whenever I'm tempted to get caught up in the latest argument of what we and everyone else could or should be doing bigger, better or differently, several passages usually come to mind and I'm convicted to set pride to the side and choose love. And most of the time (and often to my chagrin), love means minding my own business. The world will know us not because of the perfection of our deeds or rhetoric. They will know us by seeing us love our fellow believers like Christ loved us. 

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 (NIV)
9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 

2 Timothy 2:22-23 (NIV)
22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 

John 13:34-35 (NIV)
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

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