"Oh Peter..."

Finally, all of you should be in agreement, understanding each other, loving each other as family, being kind and humble.

1 Peter 3:8 

 

One of my favorite people in the Bible is Peter.  Somehow, I can see Jesus rolling His eyes and probably having more than a chuckle or two because of Peter.  Peter was that guy who tried, I mean he REALLY tried, and yet he wasn't perfect.  He always seemed to have the best of intentions, but his execution was always just not there.

 

And here is Peter telling us that we should be in agreement.  REALLY?  Agreement? 

"Have you met the people with whom I am to be in 'agreement'?"

"Have you heard the way they talk about everyone"

"Have you seen the things they do?"

 

Think about this, what was the core message of Jesus' teaching?  To love each other!  Sometimes that will mean admitting when we're wrong.  Sometimes that will mean agreeing to disagree.  Sometimes that will mean we may need to change our perspective.

 

Then Peter tells us that we are to be understanding of each other.  WHAT?  I need to actually understand other people?  Yes!  When we understand what's going on in the lives of others, we will be better able to love them and help them.  Think about your own life, how does it feel when someone actually understands what you are having to endure?

 

Peter also tells us that we are to treat each other like family.  Consider this, when we get to Heaven, we are going to be spending the rest of eternity together, so we might as well start getting used to each other now.

 

Finally, Peter tells us that we are to be kind and humble.  This from the man who told Jesus that He couldn't wash his feet.  This from the man who stepped out of the boat to walk on water and then sank because of his lack of belief.  This from the man who cut off the ear of the servant of Malchus.  Kind?  Humble?  How do YOU want to be treated?  With kindness and humbleness.

 

Think about that.  

 

Abba,

 

Help us to become humble. Take away our pride, and remind us that we are not here just for our on glorification, but You have put us here in order to reach out to others.  Help us to love others, not just in words but in our actions and our attitudes.  Help us care about and for each other.  Remind us that we are family....we are YOUR children.  Teach us to be thankful and grateful for every moment of every day.

 

In Jesus' Name, Amen.