1 Peter 3:8: Finally, All Of You, Have Unity Of Mind, Sympathy, Brotherly Love, A Tender Heart, And A Humble Mind.

1 Peter 3:8

[8] Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. (ESV)

Peter has established in this letter that we are a special people called together by God himself. He has emphasized that Christian believers are humble people, who willingly subject themselves to authority. This is because God himself has established authority, and so, when we are demonstrating a submissive attitude we are displaying respect to something that God has established.

It would follow, then, that those who are willingly submissive to one another as members of the body of Christ, that they would have unity of mind, sympathy,  brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. We know that we are part of the kingdom of God. None of us is seeking to build our own kingdom. This is the ideal that we find here in this verse.

So, how do we see things work out in every day life in the body of Christ? Is everyone acting the way that Peter is prescribing for us? Probably not. Unity of mind? Get a church together and have them come to a decision on what color the carpet should be! There are some churches where it seems they have meetings just to have meetings. Nothing is ever decided because there is no unity of mind

For the church to demonstrate the qualities mentioned here in verse 8, it is essential that it's members understand who they are and who the church is. The previous verses  demonstrate a humble submission that is so important for us to have. If I am truly humble I will not demand my own way. It frees me to find agreement with others and treat them with sympathy, love, tenderness and humility. 

Go back and read the previous chapters and verses, from the beginning of 1 Peter. Notice how he describes the church and it's humble members. Ask God to help you to have a humble heart so that you can be united with God's church.