Read 1 Peter 3:8-12
“…Because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” (v 9 b)
Some Thoughts…
This is our calling; to be like Christ (see Philippians 2:1-11; 1 Peter 2:20-21). And in times of high stress and confusing information we must choose to follow that calling and model our lives after Jesus…And here Peter wraps up his appeal for us to join in the suffering of Christ with some very practical and relational ways to live with each other…and it is important to note that this is for ALL believers, not just the “strong” “spiritual’ ones (see v 8)
“Finally, all of you”…
1) “Live in Harmony” – literally – be “like-minded” – choosing to see the other’s perspective, even submitting to their view – it is an art of finding the common ground in Christ and pursuing the things that matter…even agreeing to disagree in the small things so that God’s Kingdom is advanced and ours is diminished.
2) “Be sympathetic” – literally – “to feel with” or to have “fellow feelings” – it is that self-forgetfulness that allows us to mourn with those who mourn and laugh with those who laugh even when we are not personally touched with tragedy or success (Romans 12:15). It means refusing to ignore someone’s pain no matter how silly or weak his or her emotional state may appear to us; and it leads us to the next level of relationship that God is calling his church; to love deep like we are family…
3) “Love as brothers” – The Greek word is “Phileo” – it means “Family Love” – it is that built in nature that says, “we are family and no matter what you’ve done, you will always be my sister, brother, parent…” Family love never lets go…never stops praying…never walks away… and always stands waiting and watching while our prodigals have their moments of departure…. God calls us to be “Family”.
4) “Be compassionate” – “Kind-hearted” – the meaning of this phrase literally deals with the inner organs – feeling for someone deep down, so much that it hurts to see them hurt…It is the same word used by Jesus when He saw the crowds of people that made Him weep. (Matthew 7:36) We are called to care deeply for those living around us, those marginalized in our society…the out-cast and the ostracized…no one needs to be left behind!
5) “Be Humble” – literally – to be “bowed down” or lowly – Now this gets tough – living with a sober view of self, seeing others as equal, or even better than me…choose the role of the server when we feel the “servee” would be more fitting to wait on us.
6) “Repay with blessing not evil” – literally this Greek phrase says, “to speak well of”. We choose to not get even with our words… We refuse to pass final judgment, trusting that God will have the final say… We choose grace over personal justice, when slapped, we turn the other cheek. Choose words to build up and not tear down is never easy when the object of those words has hit our last nerve!
Now, we are getting down to it – EMPTYING OF SELF, so there is room for Jesus. And when there is room for Jesus the angels sing and mountains move and lives are set on an eternal highway!
A Prayer…
Oh, God, make me like Jesus, so I can live out Your calling in my life…Amen.