8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, sympathetic, lovers of your fellow believers, compassionate, and modest in your opinion of yourselves. 9 Don’t pay back evil for evil or insult for insult. Instead, give blessing in return. You were called to do this so that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For those who want to love life and see good days should keep their tongue from evil speaking and their lips from speaking lies. 11 They should shun evil and do good; seek peace and chase after it. 12 The Lord’s eyes are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord cannot tolerate those who do evil. 13 Who will harm you if you are zealous for good? 14 But happy are you, even if you suffer because of righteousness! Don’t be terrified or upset by them. 15 Instead, regard Christ the Lord as holy in your hearts. Whenever anyone asks you to speak of your hope, be ready to defend it. 16 Yet do this with respectful humility, maintaining a good conscience. Act in this way so that those who malign your good lifestyle in Christ may be ashamed when they slander you. 17 It is better to suffer for doing good (if this could possibly be God’s will) than for doing evil. 18 Christ himself suffered on account of sins, once for all, the righteous one on behalf of the unrighteous. He did this in order to bring you into the presence of God. Christ was put to death as a human, but made alive by the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:8-18, CEB)
Read the title again. It says pathetic. Be pathetic!
No it says sympathetic, be sympathetic. Lovers of your fellow believers.
What you want isn’t important in the whole picture, it is what is best for the whole.
So be in sync with those around you, not just those that agree with you, but all believers, for that is the mind of God and what is needed in the world.
Let go of what you think you need or want and listen to those around you and do what is best for the community.
And as always, Love People, Love God.
aSacredRebel 