“Finally,
all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender
heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for
reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called,
that you may obtain a blessing.”
-1 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV).
Peter
the Apostle wrote his epistles to instruct Christians in how to live.
In context, his “finally” transitions here from the preceding
instructions he had given to wives and husbands as to how they should
live together in harmony and love (see 1 Peter 1-7). Peter had also
included earlier in his letter how Christians should behave in a
society where they were sometimes persecuted for their faith, how
they should honor governing powers, and how, living as strangers in a
land not predominantly Christian they were to lead faithful and
exemplary lives.
“Finally,”
denotes a transition and a call to take special notice. Then he
summarizes by giving a list of virtues that should be practiced by
every faithful Christian. Let’s examine Peter’s list of virtues:
“Unity
of mind” calls
Christians to live in harmony with one another. We have different
gifts, different ideas and talents to bring to our church work and
our Christian life lived out in the world. Like a quartet or choir
that sings different parts, we can join in harmony of spirit and
purpose to produce what is beautiful.
“Sympathy”
indicates that we really
care for one another and those who are hurting. We feel with them and
seek to comfort and help them.
“Brotherly
love” leads to
Christian action. The Christian loves, but also he acts to extend
that love in good works and consideration of others’ needs.
“A
tender heart” leads us
to act upon our sympathy (compassion) and brotherly love. We cannot
insulate ourselves to the needs of others. Jesus taught us that if
we help the “least of these” we are doing the deeds as “unto
Him.” (see Matthew 25:31-40).
“Humility”
is a virtue we cultivate, not seeking to call attention to our deeds
of mercy but doing them “as unto the Lord.”
Live
to bless rather than to retaliate. Not
“an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” which is retaliation,
living on the human level; but “return good for evil,” which is
living a merciful and caring life, as Jesus has taught us and as He
set the example for us to do. And note that when we bless others, we
also receive a blessing.
In
this list of godly virtues, Peter is not calling upon Christians to
do some impossible acts or to isolate themselves from real life.
Rather, he is reminding Christians to approach life with positive and
God-led virtues, and by
faith and with the
Lord’s guidance and direction to live a life worthy of the calling
and the name Christian (like Christ).
Prayer:
Lord, help us absorb the meaning of these godly virtues; but more
than knowing what they mean, help us to so incorporate them into our
lives and manner of living that we can make a difference where we
are, for Jesus’s sake today. - Ethelene Dyer Jones 10.01.2016.
