1 Peter 3:8–12 (NKJV) — 8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having
compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be
courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the
contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit
a blessing. 10 For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him
refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 11 Let him
turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For
the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their
prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.”
I have had my share of heroes through life. Early in life like around 5- and 6-
years old Zorro, and Roy Rodgers were my heroes. I wore their clothes,
wielded the sword and shot the guns. As I grew older my heroes changed.
They became more sophisticated. Heroes are great to have. We must be
careful who we choose to be our heroes.
There are many heroes found in the Bible. Many men and women have
fought the fight of freedom, spiritual freedom, in the pages of the Bible.
None of these heroes in the Bible would want us to choose them as heroes.
They lived their lives not to bring honor to themselves but to God. They as
Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:7 “…fought the good fight, …finished the race,
…kept the faith.”
Peter writes we are to be of one mind. That is the Mind of Christ. We are to
have compassion for one another. We are to love as brothers and be
tenderhearted and courteous. Peter is not asking for much. Those few things
are at times very difficult. But he does not stop there. He says we are not to
return evil for evil. We are to bless those who do us wrong. We are to as my
mother would say, “Watch your tongue!” If we try to get back at someone
who has hurt us we have blown the blessing of God in our lives.
Our Father in Heaven knows best! We are to keep our minds on becoming
just like Jesus and allowing God to conform us to the image of Christ. We
must keep our minds on living holy, righteous, and pure lives. Paul writes in
Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,
which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what
is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
My Hero has to be Jesus Christ. He is the only one I can follow knowing His
life was perfect. I will never measure up to His perfection, but I can continue
to allow Him to do His work in my life. I know when I fail He does not
criticize or condemn. He is there to lift me up and help me walk the path He
has laid for me. Who is your hero?