May 15, 2017

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble

I traveled recently. I don’t travel large distances frequently so it is always a bit of an adventure. I’ve taken to making lists of things I will need on my trip and checking them over and over. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so goes the old saying. Peter has been giving advice to his readers about how to get along in potentially difficult relationships, specifically with the government, with bosses, and in marriage. Now he sums up with a little checklist of qualities that can guide these relationships and all relationships. What would it be like if we ran through this list as we faced our world each day? What if we made it a goal, even in our difficult relationships, to “be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble?” Peter seems to be suggesting that it might not only make a difference in our relationships with others but also in our relationship with God. This week, why not try this checklist when you are dealing with those around you?