8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Here Peter echoes the teachings of Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount. The first century Christians were facing severe opposition from their pagan neighbors in the forms of verbal abuse (both within the household and community structure), misrepresentations of Christianity (charge of incest, “calling one another brothers and sisters within the Church,” and cannibalism, “eating the body and blood of Jesus Christ”), public mockery for not participating in the ways of the pagan idolatry and revelries (as 1 Peter 4:3, 4 paints it).
Peter calls the church to exemplify the same attitude of Jesus to one another (both within and without the Church). The only difference that Christians can make, then, is to set themselves different from the worldly people. They cannot retreat or be ashamed of their God-given, blood-bought identity. Hence, as Christ Jesus displayed his enormous patience and suffered at the hands of his enemies. So, also Christians are called to act likewise. Our characters in critical encounters with unloving people will reveal the true identity of being called a Christian. It’s not so much about talk, it’s about the walk that matters!
As Christ was rewarded for his willing obedience to the Father (Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 12:2), so also Christians who follows the path of Christ will receive blessings from God. The participation in the sufferings of Christ will be of eternal value and glory. This glory is expressed in terms of the “crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:8).
Prayer: Dear Lord, we want to be your faithful servants holding on to faith and love till the end of our lives. Help us be like Jesus our Lord in the midst of suffering and pain. May people see the beauty of Christ in us, for in your name we pray, Amen.
