Spiritually, some of us haven't grown up. 'You...ought to be teaching others, but instead you...need someone to teach you...until you become...mature...' (Hebrews 5:12-6:1) Just as there are signs of physical growth, there are hallmarks of spiritual maturity like the ones mentioned in 1 Peter 3:8
(1) 'Be...united in spirit.' Now unity isn't the same as uniformity where everybody has to think alike or even unanimity where we have to agree about everything. Unity is focusing on what unites us, instead of the petty issues that divide us. Stop Being So Critical
(2) 'Sympathising with one another.' The Greek interpretation of the word sympathy is 'to feel for' others. 'When [they're] happy, be happy with them...when they are sad, be sad.' (Romans 12:15) When you become more concerned about others than you are about yourself, you're starting to mature.
(3) 'Loving each other.' We all need friends to love and support us. The president of Taylor University said one of his greatest hopes is to end up with eight friends who'll attend his funeral without once checking their watches!
(4) 'Be...compassionate.' In a high-tech age it's easy to tune out those in need. When Jesus saw people, '...He felt compassion...because they were distressed and dispirited...' (Matthew 9:36) Hurting people touched His heart, and they should touch ours too. When You Belittle, You Become Little
(5) 'Be...humble.' Charles Swindoll says, 'Look for opportunities to give...to build up rather than tearing down, to serve rather than being served, to learn from others rather than clamouring for the teaching stand.' So, how are you doing so far?
Peter writes: 'Never return...insult for insult...' (1 Peter 3:9) When you're under fire, instead of defending yourself with caustic comments and clever comebacks designed to put the other guy in his place, pray 'for their welfare, happiness, and protection...that you may...inherit a blessing from God.' (v9) 'Keep [your] tongue... from evil.' (v10) Some people never learn this lesson.
There's an old English headstone that reads: 'Beneath this sod, this lump of clay, lies Arabella Young; who on the 24th of May began to hold her tongue.' During the French Revolution the king and queen were beheaded, leaving the crown prince orphaned.
There was talk about beheading him too, until somebody allegedly said, 'If you kill him you'll just send his soul to Heaven. Instead, turn him over to Old Meg and she'll teach him vile, filthy words so his soul will be damned forever!' The story goes that, when they turned the prince over to this woman of the streets who tried to teach him all kinds of profanity, he said: 'I was born to be a king and I will not say it!' Bottom line, when you're the child of the King your words should reflect it. 'Seek peace.' (v11) It takes courage to be the peacemaker. Take The Plunge
Everywhere you look people are angry about the economy, taxes, unemployment benefits and just about anything else you can think of. Being a peacemaker isn't the same as being a peacekeeper. Peacekeepers look for ways to keep the peace by maintaining a delicate balance between both sides. Peacemakers plough into the middle of the conflict and help them make peace with each other.
More Reading: 2 Timothy 1-4, John 20:1-9
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