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More I Peter commentaries

I Peter 1:1-8
Our Guaranteed Reservation in Heaven

I Peter 1:9-12
Experience Heaven’s Glory in the Midst of Suffering

I Peter 1:13-16
Living a Disciplined Life in Christ

I Peter 1:17-21
It is the Blood That Sets Us Free

I Peter 1:22-25
True Love is Easily Seen

I Peter 2:1-3
Children in God’s Family

I Peter 2:4-8
Stones in God’s Temple

I Peter 2:9-10
Who Christ Says we are as Christians

I Peter 2:11-12
As a Believer we do not Belong to This World

I Peter 2:13-17
Submission to Government

I Peter 2:18-20
Submission to Masters

I Peter 2:21-23
We Are to Emulate Christ’s Example

I Peter 2:24-25
Peter Takes Us to the Cross

I Peter 3:1-6
How Christian Wives can Win Unsaved Husbands

I Peter 3:7-7
Admonition for Christian Husbands

I Peter 3:8-9
Sharing in the Joy of Others

I Peter 3:10-12
How to Have a Really Good Day

I Peter 3:13-17
Always be Ready to Witness

I Peter 3:18-22
Be Faithful and Leave the Results to God

I Peter 4:1-6
Following Christ May Bring Persecution

I Peter 4:7-11
Hospitality Includes Ministering to One another

I Peter 4:12-14
Every Christian can Expect Persecution

I Peter 4:15-19
Suffering for God’s Glory

I Peter 5:1-7
Leaders Are Not to Lord Over God’s Heritage

I Peter 5:8-14
The Holy Kiss Was a Mark of Innocent Affection

Sharing in the Joy of Others

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I Peter 3:8–9
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

Words can never adequately express the incredible inpact of our attitude toward life. The longer I live the more convinced I am that life is 10 percent of what happens to us and 90 percent of how we respond to it. I believe the most significant decision I can make in a single … More

Attitude

Many of life’s problems are caused by wrong words spoken in the wrong spirit. Peter exhorts us to:

  1. Have a unity of mind - “of one mind.” Unity does not mean uniformity but instead it means coopera­tion in the midst of diversity. As Christians we may differ on how things are to be done, but we must agree on what is to be done and why.
  2. Have compassion - “having compassion one of anot­her.” Our English word “sympathy” comes from this word. It means to have a sincere feeling for and with the needs of others. We must share in both the joys and trials of others (Romans 12:15).
  3. Have love - “love as brethren.” We  are"taught of God to  love one another” (I Thes. 4:9).  The basis for our love is the fact that we are brethren and in the same family.
  4. Have tender hearts - “be pitiful” (tenderheart­ed). It is so easy today to be deluged with so much bad news that we become calloused toward others.
  5. Have courtesy - “be  courteous.” This involves much more than just acting like a  gentle­man. Humility is the foundation for courtesy, for the humble person puts others ahead of himself.

The result of this kind of living is that we will never “render evil for evil or railing for railing.”

Application

As a Christian I can live on one of three levels. I can return evil for good which is the satanic level.  I can return good for good which is the human level. Or I can return good for evil, which is the godly level. On which level am I living?

I Peter 3:8-9 (English Standard Version)

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »

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