Verse of the Day - 1 Peter 3:8

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"Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind."
1 Peter 3:8, NRSV

The power of this final desire is found in the communal love it emphasizes. These are things the readers do with and for one another as they emulate the nature of God in self-denying, other-focused love. It’s the kind of love we see lived out on the cross. It’s the kind of love implied in the story of the lost sheep. It’s a selfless and reckless and porous love.

Too often, a disservice is done to this communal love; "unity of spirit" is turned into "legalistic agreement," and then everything that follows falls apart. Unity of spirit isn’t about intellect but about love; love is book-ended on either side by aspects of itself. Unity, sympathy, tenderness, and humility are born of love for one another.

Finally...love...

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