1 Peter 3:8-12
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.””
1 Peter 3:8-12 NIV
A wealthy man took a journey carrying a great treasure. A thief joined him to steal the treasure. But the rich man was wise enough to be careful of newfound friends. At night, they stopped at an inn. The rich man let the thief bathe first. Then he hid the treasure under the thief’s pillow. As the rich man bathed, the thief searched for the treasure in vain. He finally gave up. As he departed, the rich man said, “The treasure was closer than you thought.” This is a sad parable of how many Christians seek to obtain a blessing. In too many instances, our search for blessings is no different than the world. These verses are a needed reminder that the blessed life is closer than you think if you are a Christian. In a selfish world that is becoming increasingly hostile towards the things of God, is this not what our Lord Jesus Christ expects from each one of us, to show pity to those who are lost and hurting, to render Christian courtesy and compassion on all with whom we come in contact, to be tender-hearted and to be full of grace and truth, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter set out to console Christians in their sufferings and to call believers to godly, submissive living. After his long treaties on our call to be holy, the need to submit to authority, the different role of family members, and a section on Christ's example of patient endurance in suffering, Peter finally begins to sum up his epistle with a series of short, simple statements on living a submissive Christian life. What a difference it would be if the Church of Christ were to follow Peter's directives in our day and age. He calls us to be of one mind, to have unity of spirit in the bond of peace, to hold fast together our faith in Christ Jesus and the gospel of grace, and to live in harmony one with the other. He calls us to sympathize with each other, to have compassion one for another, and to empathise in the trials and difficulties that our brothers and sisters in Christ are going through, to be there to help and to comfort, to support and encourage. He even condenses this into the simplicity of love the brethren. At a time when the love of many is growing ever colder and darker,to love our Christian brothers and sisters in Christ, to care and to pray for them to love one another in the same way that Christ loved us. And he also calls us to be tender-hearted and to have a humble attitude. Surely, if we were to apply this call of the apostle, to be like-minded and sympathetic, to love our fellow believers, and to be compassionate in humility of heart, we would be following our Lord’s command to Love as I have loved you, for by this shall all men know that You are My disciples!!!
Father thank you for this day and for the breath of life found in Your Word.Lord open the storehouses of Your abundant blessings pour them out upon my friend and family today. Lord how we desire to apply this gentle spirit of compassion, humility, and love into our lives so that we may be an example of a Godly believer and give glory to Your Holy Name. Lord help us to apply this in our lives. Lord use my friend to be the touch of your love to all today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !
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