As the title of this post suggests, I want to ask readers and myself a question. And the way I am using the first person plural pronoun is not “the royal we.” The royal we is usage of the plural by royalty (usually the king or queen) to refer to one person. My usage of “we” refers to all of us.
Last night in preparing for my high school Bible class I read through the New Testament letter of I Peter. And as many times as I have read it before, I never noticed that each of the five chapters has a similar instruction and challenge for fellow believers in the church. The more I have thought about these verses, it seems to me they are pertinent not just with fellow believers in the church, but to a variety of groups both in the church and beyond.
Here are the verses:
I Peter 1:22, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.”
I Peter 2:17b, “Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers.”
I Peter 3:8, “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”
I Peter 4:8, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
I Peter 5:5b, “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.”
Those are some powerful notes of challenge and instruction, aren’t they? Not only that, wouldn’t you agree they should not be limited to Christians and church members?
I not only want to treat my fellow church members like this; I also want to treat my extended family, my non-church going friends, the guys with whom I play golf, and lots of other people in my life. I hope as well that they too would treat me likewise.
Here’s why I think these five verses from the five chapters of I Peter raised the question in my mind, “How are we doing?” In general, I don’t think we are doing as well as we should be doing. Too many times I observe what appears to me as a lack of proper respect. Rather than clothing ourselves with humility and being humble, we are arrogant. And I note occasions where love does not cover wrongs, but grudges are held.
The question is “How are we doing?” and we includes me. I can do better, and my sense is so could everyone who reads this. I’m going to use my reading of I Peter last night, and noting the instruction and challenge, to be more intentional about putting it into practice. Perhaps you will join me?
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Bob, Love, respect, sympathy, compassion and humility. Like the fruit of the spirit, we would all do well to improve in all of these areas. I too am challenged today to do better.
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Bob, I forgot to say I hope you and Jan are safe. Will be praying for your safety from the storms.
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Good Morning Pastor Bob: Thanks for this post. Excellent food for thought. You are right, “we” can do better and I know I can.
Thanks again, hope you and Jan are well!
Be Blessed, Cindy
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Thanks Bob for, once again, challenging my, all to often, comfortable self and firing up my little brain. Here goes:
In the time of Peter there were so many factions trying to destroy or pollute a fledgling Christian movement. I see Peter, trying to strengthen that movement from within, by basically encouraging Christians to hold together by learning to love their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Encountering people outside the faith, I’m sure, was essentially, doing battle every day. Peter was well aware that being the spear tip every day had a price. When discouraged, that spear needs sharpening. Honest love and encouragement by others within the community of faith was and still is important. Today we still fight those same battles and we still need to hear words like “I love you, brother or sister.” It’s the easiest thing to “say” and sometimes the hardest thing to mean. I hear it often in our church, which means we’re doing “ok,” but we have a ways to go.
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