Encouraging Words

A friend shared some verses with me today to encourage me - she said it specifically made her think of some things she and I had been talking about ... and while she meant it to encourage me, I took it as a challenge - as well as a promise. 
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous,
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.  I Peter 3:8-9

As I meditated on these verses today, I decided to read some commentaries on them to make sure I understood them more fully. 

BE YE ALL OF ONE MIND
- the Greek word here apparently means to be "like minded" ... at our church I've often heard the terms "churches of like faith" or "they are of like faith and practice".  I wonder if that is similar?  Perhaps like the hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers" when it says:
Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

HAVING COMPASSION ONE OF ANOTHER
a commentator (Vincent's Word Studies) says that we often limit sympathy/compassion to sorrow, but instead we are to be compassionate in sorrow and JOY.  Rejoicing with those who rejoice; weeping with those who weep.  Barnes notes that we should feel for others as we would be experiencing their situations ourselves.  That is sometimes hard to do when we think the another's sorrow - or victory - is not deserved, and yet, our very salvation and the goodness of God and His compassions to us are not deserved any more.  Great is His faithfulness!

LOVE AS BRETHERN
or love THE brethern.  If only we loved each other as we should ... if only we ceased our self-righteousness and judging and categorizing who was worthy and who wasn't - and just loved and left the sorting out to God.  Jesus had a lot to say about loving each other - it is a study in and of itself.  It is how the world might know we are His disciples (John 13:35) - it is what we are commanded to do (Love your neighbor AS YOURSELF) - beloved, love is of God and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God (I John 4:7)

BE PITIFUL
not being pathetic but showing pity.  Being tender hearted, in this case especially toward the afflicted.  Sometimes it is easier to ignore someone or only show sympathy towards someone who isn't needy or who hasn't brought their situation upon themselves by their own bad choices - and while we shouldn't "enable" people to continue in bad behavior, having sympathy or pity on someone may give them a glimpse of the mercy of God which just might in turn lead them to repentence (Romans 2:4). 

BE COURTEOUS
not just being polite - but the Greek word here means "humble, kind, or friendly-minded".  This phrase makes me think of my husband ... I've always said he is one of the kindest people I know - and kind to everyone whether they seemingly deserve it or even realize it.  He is courteous to a fault.  When we were first married, I had several older woman ask me if he had any brothers just like him for their daughters to meet!  While Dan's kindness - I think - is seen by some as being meek or gullible or weak or simple, little do they realize that under that sometimes-cheesy smile is solid character and a strong sense of personal responsibility towards God, others, and commitments.  It doesn't mean he agrees with everyone he is kind to, but it means he gives everyone the respect they are due as a human being for whom Christ died.  It is closely linked to humility - but never, never mistake humility with weakness!  Especially not in the Christian sense. 

NOT RENDERING EVIL FOR EVIL OR RAILING FOR RAILING
do not revile, curse, or ridicule when reviled, cursed or ridiculed ... that is vengence - and that belongs to God.  It is a worldly philosophy to repay evil with evil - "They got what they had comin' to them!" or "They deserved it!" ... maybe they did, BUT that is God's to decide, particularly when it is malicious and personal - more than ethical or moral, but even then, GOD is the righteous Judge.

BUT CONTRARIWISE BLESSING
one commentary I read talks more about if a fellow Christian says something evil about you, to offer up a prayer of blessing over them in return, but no doubt the priniciple goes for those who hate us and hate Christ.  If we bless our enemies, we are following God's command - and He in return can and will bless us.

knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
"It is not in order to inherit a blessing that we must bless, but because our portion is blessing." No railing can injure you (1Pe 3:13). Imitate God who "blesses" you. The first fruits of His blessing for eternity are enjoyed by the righteous even now (1Pe 3:10) [Bengel].

Conny