Opening Prayer
Holy God, sanctify us in heart and deed by Your holy Word. Amen.
Text: First Peter 3:8-14
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
Devotion
If you want to gather with Christ, then live according to this Epistle. All who walk in this way confess Christ unceasingly, honor His name, and lead souls to Him. But they themselves also enjoy the happiness of life and the blessing of the cross. God’s peace rules in their heart, they experience the Lord’s help in all tribulations, and they are thankful for all. “He who would love life and see good days,” let him speak and do good things! But, should we “love life” and long for “good days?” Doesn’t the Lord Himself say: “He who loves his life shall lose it”?
“Life” and “life” are two different things. The life we should love is fellowship with God, but the life we should hate is the life of fleshly and sensual pleasures. The Lord Himself should be our life. We should love Him so that everything else that we love vanishes before Him who is our soul’s Delight, just as the stars disappear when the sun comes up. Then He will fill our hearts with heavenly joy and make our life alive and rich. Jesus taught us to pray for this in the Third Petition of the Lord’s Prayer. As the blessed angels in heaven praise God and serve us, so we should gladly serve one another and praise the Lord. This is the life we should love. Christian brothers and sisters, then be all like-minded. All together have one mind according to Christ, so that you think the same, have the same love, are of one mind and one purpose. Regard yourselves as nothing and adorn yourselves with meekness. In meek souls love grows; without meekness no brotherly attitude thrives. Be compassionate, all of you. You are members of one another, and when one member suffers, all the members suffer together. Be loving toward the brethren, for “then all shall know that you are Jesus’ disciples if you have love for one another” (Joh 13:35). “Love each other fervently with a pure heart,” and show this in well-doing and genuine sympathy with all. Don’t close your hand to another’s need, but practice fervent mercy as the children of mercy. Let it never be said of the believers that they are unwilling to give, so that people have to go to others for help. But let experience always teach people that they are not turned away empty at the doors of the saints. Do not repay evil with evil, but love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, and heap burning coals on their head. Bless those who curse you (Mat 5:44). Put yourselves in their place, consider how unhappy they are, and do not forget what boundless grace you have received. As your Father in heaven lets His sun shine on the evil and the good (Mat 5:45), so also your hearts and tongues and hands should be a source of blessing, so that the curse hurled against you can return as blessing on those who curse you. What happiness, what life! May God grant you this great grace!
Closing Prayer
Give us Your Holy Spirit’s desire and power to do this, merciful God! Give us a loving and holy mind. Let all our walk be well-pleasing to You and blessed before men. Amen.
Hymn
How fair the Church of Christ shall stand,
A beacon-light in all the land,
When love and faith all hearts inspire,
And all unite in one desire
To be a fam’ly, and agree
To live in peace and unity.
‘Tis all in vain that you profess
The doctrines of the Church, unless
You live according to your creed,
And show your faith by word and deed.
Observe the rule: To others do
As you would have them do to you.
Kingo: L 484:1-2 ELH 418:1-2 tr. O. T. (Sanden) Arneson;
tune: Melita