Resilient: Powerful Hope in a Dangerous WorldSample

The Upside-down Kingdom

As followers of Jesus, we live in the upside-down Kingdom. What does that mean? In the kingdom of God, we are told to bless those who curse us and to love those who hate us. In the kingdom of God, the weak are made strong, and the persecuted are blessed. The way Jesus taught us to live is upside-down compared to our culture. Culture tells us to do whatever it takes to get ahead, harden our hearts so we do not experience heartbreak, and prioritize our happiness above all else.

We all want to live a good life. We want our days to matter. In 1 Peter, we are given a map for that; it just looks different than what the world tells us. If we trust Jesus loves us most and knows us best, then we can trust His ways are best for us. Luke 6:28 and Romans 12:14 both tell us to love those who persecute us. We may not experience the same life-threatening persecution as the disciples, but we still feel it. Have you ever been made fun of for being a follower of Jesus? Have you ever been left out of something because of how you live your life? Have you ever felt like an outsider? Have you been accused of being judgmental for not participating in something you felt was not Christ-like?

The Bible tells us that as we live out our lives in this upside-down kind of way, we should be prepared to tell others why. When we have peace amid chaos, joy in the middle of trouble, and love when treated poorly, we can point others to Jesus. HE is the reason we have joy, peace, and love. He is the reason for every good part of us others might see. In 1 Peter 3:15, after we are told to be ready to give a defense for our faith, Peter tells us to make sure our response is filled with gentleness and respect. We do not respond with shame or blame but with gentleness and respect. Jesus has treated us with gentleness and respect, so we are called to emulate Him.

Jesus is the leader of the upside-down Kingdom. He died for a bunch of sinners who were running from Him. Jesus draws near to us when we push Him away. He left Heaven to come to a sinful world to be with a people who chose our own way over and over again. When we think about all the upside-down ways Jesus has loved us, it’s not hard to consider loving our enemies. God does not just tell us to do something without giving us the ultimate example. We can love because He loves us when we do not deserve it.

Reflection Questions

1. Where have you seen the upside-down Kingdom play out in your life?
2. Can you think of someone you have seen live in an upside-down way?