1 Peter 3:8,9

Scripture:

1 Peter 3:8,9 “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit.” (NASB)

Observation:

2+2=4. I remember learning math back in elementary school. Learning the meaning of the word “sum.” It was the total amount of adding things together. Funny how you remember things from way back when. I couldn’t help but think how Peter, the writer of today’s verse, uses the word “sum” in referring to how we are to be when we are added together – harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit. Just imagine if we truly were all those things. Sometimes families can drive us crazy, but if we are to sum up our life, including family, we need to be the total amount of adding all things together in a harmonious way. Think of your church, are we sympathetic, brotherly, and kindhearted with all the people who attend? Not just the ones we agree with either. To “sum” up, what are we doing to add to the total amount of our families, our churches, our communities? Something to think about as we add another day to our lives. 

Application:

• Personal Application: Continue spending time with the Lord daily. Sow righteousness and reap the fruit of God's unfailing love. 
• Family Devotional: Read this chapter to your family. Ask them if anything spoke to them as you read. Talk about their answers and show them that one important aspect of this chapter is that we must continue to spend time with the Lord and keep our hearts focused on His plans and purposes. Pray for them.

TOM SEMBER has been involved in ministering to men for over 20 years. He is an ordained minister with the AG in the NY Ministry Network. Tom lives with his wife, Carolyn, and children in New York. You can connect with Tom on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Romans 15:7

Scripture:

Romans 15:7 “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” (NASB)

Observation:

Can you imagine if we all were the same? Doing the same thing – acting the same way. Life would be boring and repetitive! Thank God for diversity. It gives us so much. In our family, the girls all have different personalities, different outlooks, and different attitudes that make them who they are. Yet they are part of our family. I would not trade any part of their uniqueness or their individual spirits that make our family whole. The differences that they have make our family what it is. Sure, there are things about each of them that drive me crazy, but I would never want them to leave or to change who they are. The church is a family, and yet so often we want each other to think the way we think or act this way or that way. We need to accept the differences, love the differences, and rejoice in the differences, because that’s what makes the church unique. Many different people come together under One God, One Savior, One Lord. The next time you have a differing opinion with someone, think about how their opinion makes things better because we all are different and that’s a good thing. 

Application:

• Personal Application: Continue spending time with the Lord daily. Sow righteousness and reap the fruit of God's unfailing love. 
• Family Devotional: Read this chapter to your family. Ask them if anything spoke to them as you read. Talk about their answers and show them that one important aspect of this chapter is that we must continue to spend time with the Lord and keep our hearts focused on His plans and purposes. Pray for them.

TOM SEMBER has been involved in ministering to men for over 20 years. He is an ordained minister with the AG in the NY Ministry Network. Tom lives with his wife, Carolyn, and children in New York. You can connect with Tom on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.