1 Peter 3:8 NLT
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.
“Finally, all of you should be of one mind.”
How do we do this? After all, the other person is doing it wrong, and they should know about it!!
I struggled with this early on in my walk with Jesus, and occasionally, it rears its ugly head to this day.
But as I read the Bible, I get clearer on this with every word I read.
The message that I am getting is that outside of my mind and the actions I take, everything, yes, everything is in the hands of God.
This does not mean that I isolate myself from this world or bunker up with other believers and limit my exposure to the world around me.
Quite the opposite, I desire to become more involved, engaging the world around me with a sense of compassion, looking to find God’s chosen.
But I do this with the armor of God strapped securely to my body.
Ephesians 6:10-12 NLT
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.”
There is only one way to become “strong in the Lord,” which comes from being in God’s Word with consistency.
Joshua 1:8 NLT
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
This is hard initially because, frankly, sometimes we start reading this book to change the world around us instead of focusing on the change of heart that needs to take place in us.
We start listening to the Pastor with a thought like this, “Boy, I wish, so and so was here to hear this. They could really use this message.”
Here’s the truth with regards to thoughts like this, if I am having thoughts like that, I go immediately into prayer, asking God to forgive me for having those thoughts, realizing that if I recognize that someone else needs this message, it means that I need it tens times as much in my life as they do.
I found that the more I pressed this thinking on the world around me the more frustrated I got because there is a real pushback on me trying to change the world with my will.
The more I read, the more I realize that not everyone will be saved, which is in the sovereign control of God. But it is not up to me to decide who will be or who won’t be saved. This rests securely in the just and graceful Hands of God.
My responsibility is to live out my faith the best I can in the world around me with grace, love, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and humility in the presence of this watching world.
James 3:13 NLT
If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
1 Peter 5:6-7 NLT
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
“and at the right time He will lift you up in honor.”
What a promise!!
Do I have the patience to wait for the “right time”?
“Sympathize with each other.”
I am starting to get “side by side” with others instead of “toe to toe” I am truly trying to look at the struggle from their point of view.
It is no longer me against them; it is now me with them, with my heart-centered on God’s Word, to find root causes of the struggle at hand focused on the one thing that can solve the issue, and that is a submitted heart to Jesus Christ.
Not forcing that solution on the problem but gently and humbly pointing to the solution.
Here’s the reality, a person will not change until they come to that conclusion on their own, regardless of the pressure that we bring to bear on the situation.
There may be a “temporary” change in behavior out of a sense of loyalty to us. But a truly lasting change will not happen until it is revealed to them by God.
And the great news here is that when that happens, watch out!! That change will be permanent, and there won’t be anything that will change that heart back to the old ways.
“Love each other…”
Our job is to love. We often use this phrase, “Come as you are,” we need to continue with this thinking in mind.
God is responsible for the spiritual growth of every believer, not us. When we take this responsibility upon ourselves, we will find ourselves disappointed most of the time and at odds with others most of the time, eventually leading to this event.
We will reach the point of throwing our hands in the air, muttering this under our breaths, “They’ll never get it, my efforts are futile, what difference does this make?”
Not a good place to be.
“Be tender hearted, and keep a humble attitude.”
We can’t forget that God is in control.
When we find ourselves out in front of God, we expose ourselves to a lot of heartache and frustration.
Please don’t take this as a message of passivity; it is quite the opposite; it takes a lot to demand this of ourselves.
Our natural spirit is one of wanting it now without the work. And this goes back to the garden.
1 Corinthians 9:27 NLT
I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
We need to release that spirit and let God’s Spirit dwell richly in our hearts.
Romans 8:9 NLT
But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)
1 John 4:4 NLT
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
This should bring us a sense of great joy.
Philippians 1:6 NLT
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Heavenly Father, I humble myself before Your mighty Spirit. I pray that You allow Your Spirit to guide my thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
Give me the strength, courage, and willingness to wait patiently in Your presence, prompting me to do Your will.
Please allow me to live out Your will in the presence of this watching world and use my life as a conduit of Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
I pray for the souls of those around me, and I ask for a humble and compassionate Spirit, ready to forgive and full of unfailing love for those who ask for my help.
I pray this in the loving name of Jesus Christ, my Lord, and my Savior, Amen!! 🙏🏻❤️
