Finally…

After having covered different topics, the apostle Peter began to bring to a close the letter that we call First Peter. Peter encouraged, “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. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it” (1 Pet. 3:8-11).

It is the Lord’s desire that His followers be united. When praying, Jesus said, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20-21). When division crept into the congregation in Corinth, Paul admonished, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you” (1 Cor. 1:10-11).

Compassion is also one of the characteristics that the Lord wants of His followers. Jesus Himself demonstrated compassion while on the Earth. “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as a sheep having no shepherd” (Matt. 9:35-36). Christians should care about the plight of those around them, which involves pity. Our hearts should never become so hardened that we do not show courteousness to our fellow man. Instead of seeking to make matters worse, Christians should never retaliate when they have been wronged. We should all be a blessing to others.

A Christian must also be careful as to what comes from his mouth. Paul wrote, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Eph. 4:29). Further, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you with all malice” (Eph. 4:31). James also mentioned, “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be” (James 3:2-10).

Christians should also be those who do good and seek peace. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matt. 5:9). In the same sermon, Jesus also taught, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). As Paul put it, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:8-10). Hopefully, we as Christians are indeed going about doing good.
~ Corey Barnette