1 Peter 3:8-12 – Scatterlings live in the the light of the cross. A sermon by Rev. Colin Pretorius.
I once read that life is like an elevator ride – it not only has a lot of ups and downs, but it’s also filled with people who push all the wrong buttons. And if we’re honest about it, we have to say that life comes with a fair number of speedbumps or curve-balls along the way. If you’ve lived any amount of time, you’ll know that things often do not turn out as expected. People can hurt you. They can disappoint you. Friends and family can cause emotional and even spiritual distress. This is of course not something new. In our Bible study we’ve been working through the life of Joseph – and his life certainly had some ups and downs! This favoured son was also a disrespected brother. He went from the pit of death to the dungeon of Potiphar to almost the top of power in the Egyptian empire. But throughout that journey of his, his eyes were focused not on himself but on the Lord. His response to, his attitude towards the things happening in his life was determined by his trust in the Lord. And the attitude with which he lived remains an example for us today – to keep waiting on the Lord, to keep trusting Him and above all to keep living for Him.
And this is what Peter is writing about in our passage today – the attitude of believers as they live in the light of the cross. And he points out in verse 8 what this living in the light of the cross looks like in practical terms. He lists five qualities that such a life ought to have. And at first these five qualities or virtues may seem a bit random, but they all have to do with how believers in the Lord Jesus should act. As we work our way through this text, we’ll see that how we respond to the issues that come up in our lives is determined by the fact that we belong to Jesus. But first listen again to what Peter says in verse 8:
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.