1Pet 3:8-15

This sermon follows on the sermon of two weeks ago, "United in love"

We mentioned that heaven is such a wonderful place because it is God's dwelling place, where each one has tender compassion for each another. There is no envy, fighting or conflict because there is Godly love. God's love reigns supreme in heaven.

Even here on earth, if we love each other, it becomes like heaven. The very place has the atmosphere of heaven. However a place with fighting, conflict, envy and swearing has the atmosphere of hell.

We must also be of one mind. If a person is not of one mind with his brethren he will not go to heaven. The early Christians were of one mind, and had love and compassion for each other. They were also totally united in their rejection of the sins and wickedness of this world - the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. And they were totally united in their resistance of the devil and all his wickedness. They were united in their hatred of evil. Their unity was astonishing.

Let us consider three points today:

1) V8, "Having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous."

Jesus was full of pity for the children. He had compassion on those who were suffering - the blind, lame and those who had some other physical abnormality.

Jesus loved sinners so much that there was a complaint about Him that He was a companion and friend of sinners and tax collectors. They knew that Jesus was friendly and that they could go to Him for help. Children loved Him. His face was one of friendliness. His attitude of compassion touched them. They could all go to Him as the Friend.

If we follow Jesus, and He reigns in our lives, then this is the friendliness we should show to other people.

It is said that many ages ago a terrible disease and wars broke out in Asia, which was part of the Roman Empire. There was a certain Bishop named Bazileaus who had compassion on those who suffered, especially on the orphans. He built orphanages and places to care for the sick. After some time a mixture of Parthians and Cretians came along and they attacked the Roman Empire, killed many people and took a great spoil and many slaves in that area. Then the disease broke out amongst the Parthians too and many became ill and died. Many people fled from those areas because they feared the dreaded disease. However, none of the Christians fled. They cared for the sick and buried the dead. They didn't distinguish between nationality or even whether the sick were Christians or heathen. The pity, love and compassion of Jesus Christ drove them.

This was the same force that drove Paul and Peter.

2) V9, "Not returning evil for evil; but on the contrary blessing."

A true Christian does not return evil for evil. The child of God is different from the natural man as fire is different from water.

In 2Sam 16:5, we read of Shimei cursing David, and David forbidding his generals to kill him or curse him. When David was younger, king Saul tried to kill David numerous times, but David was fit and nimble and escaped time and again. The Lord did not allow Saul to kill David. However, when David had the opportunity to kill Saul, he refused saying, "The Lord forbid that I should lift my hand against the Lord's anointed."

David was a true Christian. He was a man of God who feared God and kept His commandments.

It is blasphemous when people call themselves Christians but live like the world, react like the world and return evil for evil and cursing for cursing. We will be astonished when we get to heaven and see people whom we thought were Christians bound hand and foot and thrown outide. Christian compassion is not theoretical only but practical.

When Jesus and His disciples passed through a village of the Samaritans once, the Samaritans refused to receive Him (Luke 9:52 - 56). Two of the disciples asked Jesus whether they should call fire from heaven to destroy them. But Jesus answered them, "you know not of what spirit you are of, for the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." Do not avenge evil with evil.

When Jesus was crucified, He prayed for His enemies, "Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing."

3) V10, "He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit."

Of all the members of your body, the tongue causes the most evil. The tongue doesn't have the steering ability of a ship, for it is set ablaze from the fires of hell. Even a war-horse can be tamed with a bit and bridle in the mouth, but not the tongue.

There is nothing humanly possible to restrain it. Only the power of God can control the tongue. A person who can control his tongue is a perfect man, the Bible says.
Jesus Christ was perfect. Even when He was lead to His death, he was silent like a lamb before His shearers.

How can the Christian restrain and contain his tongue, and what type of Christian is able to do that? He who loves Jesus with all his heart and hates the devil and his works as his greatest enemy.

May the Word of God bring about a change in your life today. May you turn to Jesus and be transformed to become like Him.

The Bible is the Word of God, but we often take its message lightly. Just think about eternity. Even after a billion years no end will be in sight.

And if we say that God speaks to us through His Word, but we are disobedient to what He says our words mean nothing. When we open the Bible prayerfully, then He comes down from Heaven and speaks to us personally. If God would manifest Himself physically in our midst it would touch us immensely. In like manner we must fear, reverence and obey Him even as He speaks to us through His Word today.