Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:00 — 4.1MB)
Presented by Lisa Bishop
I’m glad you have joined me today. This week we’re looking at attitudes and behaviors that foster unity in community. Community matters to God, and how we act toward one another is essential, as we carry out our calling as ambassadors of Jesus.
So today, let’s look at what 1 Peter 3:8-9 has to teach us about living out our oneness in Christ.
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 (1 Peter 3:8-9).
When Peter says to be of one mind, he is not saying that we will agree on everything. He is implying a unity of aim and purpose. When we seek to live in unity with one another, it is a mindset and a heart set on honoring and glorifying Jesus with the way we conduct ourselves. We know our aim on this earth is to love and follow Jesus and to live out the great command to make disciples of all nations—to draw people to a saving relationship with Christ. And we cannot do that well if we do not love each other well.
We need to love one another, guard against a prideful attitude, and demonstrate humility; be compassionate toward one another and mindful to guard against all unnecessary contention. And perhaps Peter gives one of the most difficult challenges when he tells us to not repay evil for evil. It can be so easy to fight back when we feel offended or mistreated. Paybacks can feel good and justified in the moment, but revenge is an act of the flesh. It takes a lot of self-control and a working of the Holy Spirit to instead pay back with a blessing. And it’s not the southern expression, “Oh bless your heart” type of blessing that Peter is talking about, which is really no blessing at all. It’s instead truly wishing good for that person. I can say is not always my first inclination to heap blessings on people especially when I feel wronged, but when we genuinely bless people, it is a demonstration to the power of Christ working in us. We are no longer controlled by our earthly nature that wants to get even or counterattack.
We strongly heed the instruction of Galatians 5:16-17.
Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17).
We bestow blessing because it is an act of obedience, it is what God has called us to do. And we know whenever God calls you and I to do something, he also equips and empowers us to carry it out. That is the power of the gospel at work in our lives. When we are so easily triggered and reactive, we fail to recognize that we can in fact instead be controlled by the Holy Spirit and allow him to help us with our actions and reactions. But it requires surrender. When you find yourself tempted to be reactionary and retaliate with your words when you feel wronged, take time to pause. Confess your feelings to the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to take control. When the fruit of the Spirit is evident in our lives, we show the world a better way and live out our purpose to point people to Jesus.