Doing Right

"For it is God's will that by doing right you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people."  -1 Peter 2:15

The Amish are often perceived as being legalistic in their Christian faith.  For instance, they are not allowed to hang decorative art on their walls unless it is functional--like a calendar or the above print.     Because they are so intent on doing God's will I feel God has preserved this religious sect, which split from the Mennonites in the late 1600s, as a stark reminder to the rest of us how far we've allowed ourselves to become "of the world."  They pique people's curiosity about their lifestyle which leads them to learn more about their faith.  A number of years ago I read all I could about the Amish, visited their communities, and even subscribed to their magazines.  Yes!  They publish magazines, but they are filled with stories written by the Amish--no glossy photos.

In Jesus' prayer for the disciples he calls us to be in the world but not of it, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of it."  It is not the Amish dress code or list of "thou shalt nots," which they keep in order to keep themselves from being "of the world," but their way of helping even their non-Amish neighbors and forgiving the man who murdered their children that shows the world they desire to fulfill His word and that all they have belongs to God.

I am grateful that God shows me His Love and how to share it through others.