Just Do It

DEVOTION 1 PETER JUST DO IT 1 Peter 3:8-12 8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." NIV Certainly a lot here, but I dare not split it up as it is all one continuous teaching in which God inspires Peter to quote from the writer of the 34th Psalm. Yet to live in harmony with another is quite a mouthful in itself. It is interesting God is not staying with just the husband and wife here, but with all of us. We all need to live in harmony with one another. Now exactly what does that mean? Looking into the Greek we find the word which means like-minded. Would this not fly in the faith of denominational differences? Would this not speak directly to anything which would keep us from agreeing? Harmonious living within the body of Christ would imply no ill feelings at all about anyone in the church. No feeling better about self over another, no judging their failures, no envy, no jealousy and no prideful attitudes. All that would be impossible if we were being sympathetic and loving everyone as brothers. This would also prevent any retribution other than blessing each other. How easy it is to get an attitude when someone lets loose with an insult. Of course an insult is only an insult if the receiver has a prideful attitude instead of being compassionate and humble. Who in their right mind would want their days to be bad? We all would love to have our days good, filled with the fruit of the Spirit, enjoying the blessings of God, having Him listen attentively to our prayers, and bringing the answers in such a wonderful way. But there is a standard, a condition so to speak. It is right there, for our reading and understanding, plain and simple, no confusion or hidden symbolism. Watching our language means just that, how we talk to each other. Turning from evil means turning from evil, doing good means doing good, seeking peace means exactly that. What is so difficult about understanding this? It is plain and simple, all we have to do is do it.