1 Peter 3: 8-11
“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 bless you for it. 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.”

Peter is setting out for us here the kind of relationship we should have with one another. He says be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Never repay evil for evil or insult for insult, but repay such wrong with blessing! How hard is that to do? How hard is it not react when we feel we are being wronged and attacked?

Our ability to bless in the face of evil and insult is a sign that we are growing up in our faith. It is also interesting that Peter uses the term harmony – which means it has nothing to do with us thinking, acting and being exactly the same. It’s possible for human beings to live harmony with each other. Peter then tells us that those who live like this will experience the blessing of being able to love life and see good days.

It saddens me today the amount of people who have a lot of stuff but their love for life has all but gone. On the outside they have everything but on the inside they have nothing and they are nearly always angry with most of the world around them. They have lost the inheritance of being able to love life and see good days.

I think verse eight sums it up nicely for us as Christ followers. It says to this you “were called” so that you may inherit a blessing. Did you get that? Our future blessing is tied directly to our ability to live in harmony with one another!! I must do everything through the power of Christ in me to make sure I live life in harmony with others. If I can do this I am fulfilling my calling and I will inherit a blessing. A blessing that will allow me to love life and see good days.

How will I do it? Verse ten says that I do it by keeping my tongue from evil and my lips from deceitful speech, turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it!

My Prayer: Father help me to live out this scripture in my life. Teach me to live in harmony with others and then instruct me how to model it for people that they too may fulfill their calling and receive their full blessing in this life. Lord teach me your ways that I may walk in them! Amen