Focus

As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.

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Read

1 Peter 3:8-12 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing. For

“Those who desire life
and desire to see good days,
let them keep their tongues from evil
and their lips from speaking deceit;

let them turn away from evil and do good;
let them seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

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Reflect

If I were to ask you about specific characteristics various groups might have, could you list them? Athletes for instance? One might say that athletes are focused, driven, competitive, and passionate. Or that artists are visionaries, creative, and ‘in-touch’ with who they are. Sure, these characteristics might be prescriptions to work toward, but in many cases, when talking about athletes or artists these are descriptions of who they are and what they do.

In today’s text, many scholars believe that Peter is writing to his readers and proclaims a description ‘of them’ rather than something prescribed to ‘strive for’. In other words, Peter is saying… “You DO have unity of spirit, you DO have sympathy, you DO love one another, you DO have a tender heart, and you DO have a humble mind.” WOW! What specific characteristics. The challenge, of course, rests in our own descriptions. Do WE have unity of spirit? Do WE have sympathy? Do WE have love for one another? Do WE have a tender heart and a humble mind? Ouch! An honest reflection might lead to a difficult answer… “Not quite like I should…” If these are characteristics of followers of Jesus, and we lack them, we might need to spend some time on our knees in prayer. We should probably spend some time asking the Holy Spirit to “Search me oh God and know my heart today.” We might need to spend time with Jesus in the Scripture.

Truth be told, I fail every day. I am thankful for God’s grace, but I do not intend to promote a form of cheap grace. We are called to lives of service and sacrifice. Lives of dying to self (the opposite of unity, sympathy, love, a tender heart, and humble mind) daily, and rising to new life in Christ. And for those of us who desire life and to see good days, we are instructed to start somewhere. To keep our tongues from evil and lips from speaking lies, to turn away from evil and do good; to seek peace and pursue it. Finally, dear sisters and brothers, may we work (with the Spirit’s help) to be who God has called us to be.

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Pray

Holy One, may we remember that we are a people of unclean lips. May we remember that we are called to put our faith in Your Son Jesus Christ, in order to be redeemed, remade, and reclaimed by the power of Your Spirit. May we be open to Your work within us, even and especially when it is hard and at times painful. To God be the Glory, great things you have done (and are doing) Amen.

Go with God!