Scripture: 1 Peter 3.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

1 Peter 3:8-9 (NLT)
⁸ Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.
⁹ Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

For those that will read the verses observed above for the first time, or the first time in a long time, you may question if Peter had his right mind. Friends, the Bible, God’s Holy Word, are writings inspired by God, therefore they have a purpose in being included in this Holy Book. Here’s what I see in these verses. When we think and follow the ways of this world, we will often do the opposite of this admonition of Peter. However, God’s Word is provided to show us a better way, a way exampled and taught by Jesus so that we may be more like Him. Let’s look closer at some of things Peter is reminding us about as originally taught in Psalm 34:12-16:

• Be of one mind – Folk heading for the same goal will generally have the same things in mind, in order to arrive there safely. When we feel like we are thinking totally opposite to our Christian brother or sister, we must stop and look inside of our thinking first and determine we if are off-base or why can’t we align our thought with the ways of our brother or sister. Don’t automatically jump to the conclusion that they are wrong and you are right. To be of one mind, we will often have to adjust our thinking as much as they would need to. Remember, the world has taught us to be selfish and demand our own way. To get away from that we will need God’s powerful hand and guidance.
  
• Sympathize with each other – Feel the pain and/or sorrow they are going through. This will show your love and support for them as you sympathize with them.
  
• Love each other as brothers and sisters – As Christians, we claim the same father, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Let us therefore treat other believers as our brother and sister. Love them just as they are. Imagine this: Jesus loves us in spite of our peculiarities and our unlovable ways. We should be able to do the same for those we call brothers and sisters.
  
• Be tenderhearted – be concerned about things that concern our brother and sister. Be tenderhearted towards the hurt they may be feeling, even if it really doesn’t affect you as much as it does them.
  
• Keep a humble attitude – A humble attitude will help us to openly look at self first and seek help to admit our wrongs and accept the other person’s decision, if it is in line with God’s Word.
  
• Don’t repay evil for evil – vengeance is mine says the Lord. We therefore need to pray for the well-being of those that we are convinced and lead by God to know is wrong. It is not our place to repay a little more evil to the person who displayed evil against us. Use the above tips to help them – sympathize with them, love them, be humble, be tenderhearted.
  
• Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult us, but pay them back with a blessing – This sounds impossible, because we tend to think about this based on all that we have learned from the world all of our lives. With God as our Master, let’s listen to Him and do what He says. I can’t imagine the impact that that this would have on a sinner!
  

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Lord Jesus, we can only accomplish these ideals with Your help. Please help me to stay focused on Your commands and Your teachings so that I may live more like You here on this earth. You have provided the perfect example for me. As I obey Your Word, I will align myself more perfectly with You and therefore represent You better in all that I say and do. Lord, may others see You in and through me in my actions, words and through my love today. I want to be more like You so that others may want to know You. May this be accomplished today, is my humble prayer, oh Lord.

 

**Words underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
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