Thursday, July 10, 2025
Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing. I Peter 3:8-9CSB
Taking Care of the Body of Christ
Peter was an apostle of Jesus Christ. This passage comes from a letter to the believers who were dispersed in the Roman Empire, encouraging them as they were experiencing persecution as Christians. They were suffering together as the body of Christ so Peter is giving them guidance as to how they may continue to show godliness to a lost world and love one another through it all.
Peter begins by telling them to be like-minded and sympathetic. It was essential for them to remain unified and of one mind. Everyone is different and all the unique characteristics of the body of Christ, along with individual spiritual gifts form a strong unified body. The body works together to do the will and the work of the Father in this world. It is harder to remain unified under pressure and persecution. The mission of the church is dependent on unity and the unity is dependent on both agreement and diversity. Unity does not mean uniformity; it means cooperation in the midst of diversity. The members of the body work together in unity, even though they are all different.
He also told them to be sympathetic. Sympathy is having feelings for others but not just feeling sorry for someone. Sympathy involves understanding and caring deeply about what others are experiencing, maybe even experiencing it with them. It is feeling sorrow for someone else’s unfortunate circumstances which stirs the heart of Christ in us.
Next Peter told them to love one another, be compassionate, and humble, things they surely already knew but we often need to be reminded of what we already know in situations that are stressful. Just as Jesus displayed the greatest love and compassion in humility, we are called to display that to the world as we love each other as he loved us. Peter is saying that one of the qualities of a powerful church is they love like brothers. We should be compassionate, show brotherly love, be tenderhearted, and considerate of each other. Compassion looks like Jesus who reached out to the leper, the dying, tax collectors, and outcasts.
The very nature of Christ in us should be that of a servant who has surrendered for the privilege of serving the Father and His purpose. In a world focused on individual rights and privileges, it is the one serving others in a spirit of humility who stand out. But that cannot be the reason we do it. The very nature of true humility is not about drawing attention to ourselves, but to a holy and loving God who has been merciful to us. That love drives us to serve others in a spirit of humility, not pride.
Likewise, as we have been forgiven, we should forgive others. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. Ephesians 4:32 The act of forgiveness is the evidence of God’s grace, mercy and love in the lives of believers. It flows from a heart that has experienced the fullness of God’s gift of salvation and humbled themselves to the purpose and ministry of Christ. Reacting in the flesh is a natural human response, but with the power of the Holy Spirit we can respond in grace and forgiveness just as we have been given.
Living a life in Christ – living and loving like he did – glorifying him and pointing others to him means that we will inherit a blessing. But even before we inherit that blessing we will be blessed here on earth. Our relationships in fellowship with one another will struggle at times but Peter has given us a blueprint of how we can walk through those times in a way that glorifies him and strengthens the relationships we already have. In times of suffering or persecution, we need each other more than ever so that when we get distracted by those circumstances we can point each other back to the purpose for which we have been called - … giving a blessing, since you were called for this…
Even in the midst of pain, persecution, or trials our purpose in the body of Christ never changes. We are to always, in every season, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing. Although Peter wrote this letter to focus on the importance of believers living and loving well under unjust suffering, it applies to us today in times of suffering and not.
How are you doing? Are you showing sympathy, love, compassion, and humility in the body of Christ? Are you giving blessings when you have the opportunity?
