“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.”
Since the theme of Peter is getting along in marriage, at work, with those in authority over us in government, and it is also our goal in a church and among brothers and sisters in the Lord. Harmony is best illustrated when people sing different parts in a duet, trio, quartet, or choir. The idea of harmony in music is complementary notes that sound good together. There is a blending together of voices or instruments to give a pleasing sound.
Harmony in relationships among Christians is focusing the same goal and going in the same direction which is to seek to glorify Jesus. Cooperation for the same purpose is what allows us a common mind. The goal to be single-minded is to be God's people in our community together so that we can carry out the mission - to glorify God outreach, discipleship, and worship. We do that in submitting ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus and in obedience to His Spirit. How we do that certainly can raise differences of opinions. At that point, it isn’t that we agree but that we are not disagreeable to our main goal. Harmony comes by working at it and sorting out God’s will together.
Jesus prayed for His people that they might all be one; even as He and His Father are one. Peter tells his readers they should be willing to suffer wrong if needs be in order that Christ's kingdom might be continued.
Humility means to be humble in spirit. As sinners we come humbly before our Lord in confession and repentance. We recognize it is not our own works of righteousness, wisdom, or understanding whereby we are saved, but fall on the mercy of a righteous God to forgive us of our sins. It is He who lifts us up and makes us His children by the cleansing that comes from faith in the crucifixion of Jesus for our sins.
Humility is an attitude that we get when we get an awareness of our Creator and our relationship to Him. If we are doing what God has gifted us to do, even if it is in a leadership role, humility allows us to still do our best to the Lord and one another.
The Christian is humble because he is aware of his dependence on God and because he constantly remembers that of himself, he can do nothing. It comes, also from the fact that the Christian has new standard of comparison. It may well be true that when he compares himself with his neighbor, he is as good as any man, but the Christians standard of comparison is Christ and when he compares himself with the sinless perfection of incarnate love divine, he has every reason to be humble.
Application: Seek harmony. See k the righteousness laid down for us by the example of our Lord.
Prayer: Help me remember that to be single-minded is to be God's people in our community together so that we can carry out the mission - to glorify God outreach, discipleship, and worship.
