1 Peter 3:8-12 Believers are to be a people who pursue peace not division.

Psalm 34:12–16 

Who is the man who desires life,

And loves many days, that he may see good?

Keep your tongue from evil,

And your lips from speaking deceit…

As much as it  is within our power we are to seek peace. 

This is only possible with the help of Holy Spirit.  With Him we develop compassion. With Him we pursue peace. With Him we forgive others as we have been forgiven. There is no other way. 

We are called to love people, all people, and to show them the love that God has for all of His creation. If the power of the Cross is held up others will be drawn to the Father’s gift of love. Carla

1 Peter 3:8-12 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 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. 

10 For “He who would love life And see good days, 

Let him refrain his tongue from evil, 

And his lips from speaking deceit. 

11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; 

Let him seek peace and pursue it. 

12 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.”

Peter calls his readers to inherit a blessing through unity, love, and upright conduct, and to repay evil with good (Luke 6:28; Romans 12:14). Here, Peter quotes Psalm 34:12–16 to emphasize his point that believers are called to be a blessing to the world. The larger context seems to indicate that believers are meant to live the words of this psalm through their long-suffering, so that the evil of the world may be gradually changed. Faithlife Study Bible

Peter encourages Christians to act like the Lord Jesus. He endured suffering and ridicule in silence, entrusting His just cause to the ultimate Judge (2:23). Peter emphasizes the contrast between our natural tendency as human beings, to get even when we are offended, with the way we should act as believers: returning good to those who hurt us (Ephesians 4:25, 29). that you may inherit a blessing: Christ will reward us for any suffering we endure in His name (Matthew 5:10–12; 19:27–30). The NKJV Study Bible

1 Corinthians 4:12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 

Romans 12:16–18 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men…

1 Peter 2:23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously

Titus 3:10 (ESV) "As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him ..."

Because division often stems from false teaching or contentious behavior, allowing it to continue is dangerous and threatens God's desire for unity. First5

I accept my imperfection—my brokenness, my divided and fractured being (what William James called my "torn-to-pieces-hood"). That here, even with the untidy parts, the untidy emotions, I can embrace the sacrament of the present moment...

in this conversation,

this relationship,

this conundrum,

this challenge,

this dandelioned pond,

this serendipity

this moment of grace.

Sabbath Moments