After giving specific
instructions to “wives” and “husbands” who were
among the “scattered” Christians, in chapter three and
verse eight of his letter the apostle Peter shared with all of them
again as he told them to “be of one mind” where we read:
Finally, be you
all of one mind, having compassion one of another,
The
verse begins, “Finally, be you all of one
mind, having compassion one of another,...” Peter
began with the word, “Finally”
which means “but, moreover and also” “be you all”
which refers to “each, every, any, the whole and everyone” “of
one mind” which means
“concordant, like-minded and harmonious”, “having
compassion one of another”
which refers to “suffering or feeling the like with another,
sympathetic, fellow-feeling and mutually commiserative”. Peter's
instruction was for every Christians to feel what another feels and
be sympathetic toward each other.
The verse goes on to say, “...love
as brethren, be pitiful, be
courteous:” Peter continued
with the charge to “love as brethren”
which refers to “brothers, sisters and fellow countrymen”, “be
pitiful” or “having strong
bowels, compassionate and tender hearted”, “be
courteous” which means
“friendly, kind and courteous”. Not only were the Christians to
feel what each other feels and be sympathetic toward one another, but
they were also to be like a close family of brothers and sisters who
were very tenderhearted.
When
we consider Peter's words, we understand his idea of being like a
loving family toward one another. The Greek word Peter used for “love
as brethren” was “philadelphos” from
which the word “Philadelphia or city of brotherly love” is
derived, and
rather than being unkind
and discourteous toward each other, they were to be “friendly,
compassionate and deep in feeling” with fellow-Christians. We too
are to follow this example, and where we have found “disagreement,
arguing and dispute” among our brothers and sisters in Christ, let
us take heed to Peter's words and love one another even as Jesus
commanded the same.
Next
time Peter tells all the Christians to “bless”
when they
have “evil”
done to them, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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