Those of us who follow the Lord have a completely different kind of maturity.
(1 Peter 3:8-12) Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing. For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, and he must turn away from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it, because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
1. Love Other Followers
A. Harmony: unity, like-minded
B. Sympathy: Caring deeply about the needs, joys and sorrows of each other.
C. Brotherly: “philadelphoi” – brotherly love.
D. Compassionately: to feel someone else’s pain.
E. Humbly: to consider others more important than self.
2. Bless Non-Followers
A. Their disdain for us is sometimes very apparent.
B. What we do about it is going to say something about the Lord.
C. Pray for them and genuinely ask God to bless them.
(9) You were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.
D. Only a mature follower of Christ can do that.
(10-11) The one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, and he must turn away from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it.
3. God is Watching
(12) The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request.
(Ps 121) My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber… The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side… The Lord will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life. The Lord will protect your coming & going both now and forever
When we experience persecution for following Jesus, it is the badge of belonging to Christ.
1 Peter 4:12-19
As Christians we should be ready for Christ's return in the future by being faithful to Christ today
1 Peter 4:7-11
There are drastic changes in the lives of all followers of Christ
1 Peter 4:1-6
We want to understand more about the spiritual realm.
1 Peter 2:18-22
Suffering, for a Christ follower, takes on a whole different look from everybody else.
1 Peter 3:12-17
