1 Peter 3:9 gives us how to please the Lord when we encounter fleshly reactions. It says, “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.”

Why do we react in our flesh? Our goals, desires, wants, pursuits, or intentions, etc. were blocked. Psalm 34:9 says, “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.” No want. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…”

What is God’s wisdom like? James 3:17 says that it is, “…first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” Psalm 34:10 says, “The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek he Lord shall not lack any good thing.” Not lack. 

Difficult people have blocked goals that continually gall them. They are impudent, harsh, and not respectful to others. Years ago the Holy Spirit taught me about coming in the opposite spirit through blessing.

In 1 Peter 3:8, an essential character quality was mentioned as a means of maintaining one mind. It says, “…having compassion for one another…” Compassion is a bond of the Spirit for unity. 

In Ephesians 4:1-2, Paul instructed his readers to walk worthy of their calling. “…with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.” Verse 3 says, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

1828 Noah Webster Dictionary for compassion: a suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration. Our Creator is a God of compassion.

Psalm 78:38 says, “But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath.”

What an example for us to walk in His steps. The opposite of compassion might be indifference, or judging others with a critical spirit. Both would indicate a lack of character development ~ not trained through their trials. Hebrews 12:10.

Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

We see in the above verse more ways that are essential to keep us in a single mindset. Forgiveness is key. Note that it said, “…if anyone has a complaint against another…” That is a signal that our hearts need to take notice of.

Complaining is fertile ground for division. Grumbling comes from the heart. Let Matthew 12:34 be a warning. It says, “…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks…” Our thoughts are what precede our words.

They were all of one accord as they waited in the upper room. Acts 2:1. That was 120 plus folks that had to come into unity before the Holy Spirit manifested Himself. It was the beginning of the church—the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”

Psalm 133:1 says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Mark 3:25 says, “And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” We know this to be true regarding church splits, divorce, and friendships.

1 Peter 3:8 gives us the way to maintain unity. It says, “…having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.” These are all character qualities that are refined as we go through deep trials. 

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful…” 2 Corinthians 1:4 says, “Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

The Lord knows our hearts. Division starts with one negative thought. If we dialogue with it, the temptation to continue is a strong pull from the enemy. Beware. Embrace the hearts of those around you, with His love imparted to you at salvation.

1 Peter 3:8 says, “Finally, all of you be of one mind…” Peter was saying that everyone of you without exception…be of one mind. One cannot be divided by one. There have to be multiple numbers. 

I use division all the time, especially when I am reducing a recipe, or figuring out the cost of something per pound. Say that you have $100 that you want to give to four people. You have to divide 100 by 4 in order to determine how much to give each one. We cut up a pie by dividing the pieces equally.

Romans 16:17 says, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses…” I thought back to the account of Joseph and his brothers. He gave a bad report about them to their father. What happened? 

Genesis 37:4 says, “…they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.” This is a warning to us. Do not receive a bad report, or enter into gossip or talebearing. It divides and destroys fellowship. Proverbs 16:28 says that a whisperer separates friends.

Paul explained how to be in one accord in Philippians 2:3-4. They say, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

1 Peter 3:9 gives us more clarity. It says, “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.”

Romans 12:9-21 is a great template. I call it the Christian Magna Carta. Verses 9-10 say, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” 

Ephesians 4:29 further instructs us. It says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Always speaking in a way that imparts grace, will build others up rather than tear them down.

I started to meditate on 1 Peter 3:8. It says, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.” It goes right along with 1 Peter 1:22 and, “…love one another fervently with a pure heart.”

There is a great illustration of everyone being of one mind in Acts 2. About 120 were gathered, praying and seeking the Lord. Verse 1 says, “When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

The Strong’s definition for one accord: being unanimous, being in agreement, having group unity, having one mind and one purpose. In my mind, I picture it like this. Anyone that had any negative thought, or unresolved issues with anyone in the room, had to have resolved it.

Think about it in your own life at family or church gatherings. Is there one accord and harmony? Philippians 2:1 called it comfort of love, fellowship of the Spirit, affection, and mercy. Verse 2 uses the words like-minded, same love, one accord, one mind.

1 Corinthians 13:6 Amplified says of love, “It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.” 

Verse 7 says, “Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything (without weakening).”

Verse 8 says, “Love never fails (never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end).” God’s love is eternal. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”

In love, God the Father gave His only begotten Son. Jesus died for our sins because of love. He imparts His love to us, so that we may express His sacrificial love to others. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 are templates to follow. He uses our adversities. in our journey of progressive sanctification Like a signet ring pressed into wax, His truth applies pressure to mold our character. 2 Peter 1:4 says that, “…you may be partakers of the divine nature…”

1 Peter 1:22 is a command for us. It says, “…love one another fervently with a pure heart.” I researched the Greek meaning in several verses. My conclusion? 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 in the Amplified gives us a working definition.

As you read it, take your spiritual temperature. Verse 4 says, “Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.” Boils over speaks of something that was left unattended.

Verse 5 says, “It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own right or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong).”

Note that what Paul wrote is only possible when we are extending God’s love that is placed in our hearts at salvation. It is impossible in our flesh.

In our fleshly reactions, we will contaminate our hearts as well as those around us. Consider difficult people as sandpaper, or a sculptor’s chisel. The Lord uses adversity to conform us to His image. 

The famous sculptor Michelangelo said, “The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there, I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.” So it is with us! The Lord sees us as righteous. We will stand before Him faultless. 

Our sanctification is progressive. We live in a contaminated world. Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t be conformed to this world…” 1 John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world…”

Jesus prayed in John 17:15, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.” Satan’s most powerful weapon is deceit. The pure in heart will see God. Matthew 5:8. That means that we will be sensitive to what the Lord is doing around us so we can join Him.