1 Peter 3:8-17 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. 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 grant you his blessing. For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil.” Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!
As a Christian, I think this is the hardest part.
“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.”
How is possible to “be of one mind” with someone when you do not agree with what the other person thinks or does?
I think the first place to start is, that we don’t know all the answers no matter how much we think we do. When we think that we have all the answers, we move into an elevated position over and above others.
The fact is when we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, God looks at His chosen as equal in Jesus Christ. No one is elevated over the other.
Mark 10:35-45 NLT
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.” “What is your request?” he asked. They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” Then Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.” When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus addressed this with James and John when they asked to be seated on the right and left of Jesus Christ when He established His kingdom.
Think deeply about this statement from Jesus, “For even the Son of Man came not to served but to serve others and the give His life as a ransom for many.”
The true leader is the one willing to lay down their lives in the service of others. This is the goal!
John 15:13 NLT
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
God has all of us exactly where He wants us. He is working in us and knows exactly where we are and knows exactly where we are going.
Our job is to focus on loving Him and loving others.
“Yeah but…”
This person does this and that person does that.
Here’s the answer from God:
“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 grant you his blessing.”
Proverbs 25:21-22 NLT
If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the LORD will reward you.
This is not to be done with an in your face attitude but a spirit of meekness and humility. “But do this in a gentle and respectful way.“
“Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong.”
In the end, it will be the decisions that we make regardless of what has happened around us that we will be accountable for. Everyone will have to account for their own actions in front of God.
Heavenly Father, keep my heart and my actions centered on Your unchanging Word.
Let my thoughts, attitudes, and, actions glorify You in every way.
I know that it is even more important to anchor my thoughts on the solid foundation of Your Word and Your promises with this rapidly changing world.
I thank You for the opportunity to serve and pray for the courage, strength, and desire to do what it is that you call me to do.
I pray for mercy and healing for our world, and most of all, I pray that You are glorified through all of this and that people come to know You through this time of change and struggle.
In the glorious name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
