I Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another, with tender hearts and humble minds. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it.
Knowing what we should be like and actually being it are two totally different things. The body of Christ should be of one mind. We fail miserably at this point. There are so many different ways we think about the Scriptures and we let our differences divide us. It has gotten to the point where parts of the body isolate themselves from other parts and won’t even have fellowship with them.
We should be full of sympathy toward each other and we struggle with this. We live in a very personal world and often lack a real concern for those amongst us who are struggling or suffering. We should show love to one another and for the most part, we love only those whom we are comfortable with. We should have tender hearts and humble minds and often have neither.
We should not repay evil for evil, which means we should repay evil with good. Getting revenge or seeking justice for ourselves is harmful to the body of Christ and should never be what we do. When others say unkind things about you, don’t lash back or seek to justify yourself. Instead, be kind and gentle in your response to them. Let your tender spirit be your witness and avenger. Go the extra mile of love and seek to do good to those who are not good to you. It may not be natural or easy, but it is what God wants you to do.
When we act in a godly way towards each other, it pleases God and He will bless us for it. We are not responsible for what others may say or do, but we are responsible for our response to them. Strive always to do that which is right in God’s eyes which means that you don’t cause trouble amongst the brethren. It is much better to keep our mouths shut than open them and say things that may divide the body. God wants us to be a blessing and not a curse to the body of Christ. He blesses those who do what is right and pleasing in His sight.
Oneness of mind, oneness of heart, and living humbly with others are God’s will for you in the church.
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