Daily Archive

Intro: Following along with the series of messages I am preaching through 1 Peter, as Peter writes to the dispersed and persecuted church in exile throughout Asia Minor, he encourages them by writing, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:11-12). In chapter 2 verse 13 through chapter 3 verse 8 he gives us three specific ways that we are able to have “honorable conduct”, even while living in an environment that is hostile to God and the gospel. Those three ways all involve submission to authority in different realms of our daily interactions. We are to be (1) submissive citizens, (2) submissive servants, and (3) submissive spouses.

As we look at these three focal points for submission, I’ve titled this devotional series “Our Mission is Submission – 1 Peter 2:13-3:8.”

Today we will look at what it means to love others within the Body of Christ:

(1) Submissive Citizens – 1 Peter 2:13-17
Love the Brotherhood (vs. 17)

While we are honoring all people, love the brotherhood, that is, the church. We share a common citizenship and as we travel through this fallen world together we must live like the family we are. We must bear one another’s burdens, comfort those who need to be comforted, correct those who need correction, all the while serving one another in a spirit of love and sacrifice.

We will not find acceptance or solace in the world. We shouldn’t even try. That is why God has made us members of one another. Many members, one body. A fellowship of the King!

What are our duties to one another is this blood bought fellowship? I have to admit that one time many years ago in ministry I preached a series of 24 sermons on the “one anothers” – our duty to one another under God in His Church, and during that time we saw more people leave the church than during any other sermon series I have ever preached! You would think the one anothers would serve to encourage and edify the church, but that is only the case if the church is living and doing the one anothers. If we are coming merely as religious consumers, and not coming to give and serve and sacrifice, then the one anothers offend us and inconvenience us.

Here is part of the convicting list of the things we are duty bound to do for one another within the body of Christ:

1. Love one another – John 13:34-35; 15:12, 17
2. Be at peace with one another – Mark 9:50
3. Honor one another – Rom. 12:10
4. Accept/receive one another – Rom. 15:17
5. Instruct one another – Rom. 15:14
6. Greet one another – with a holy kiss no less – 2 Cor. 13:12; Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 1 Thess. 5:26
7. Serve one another – Gal. 5:13
8. Carry one another’s burdens – Gal. 6:2
9. Bear with one another – put up with each other – Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:13
10. Forgive one another – Eph. 4:32
11. Submit to one another – Eph. 5:21
12. Do not lie to one another – Col. 3:9
13. Teach one another – Col. 3:16
14. Admonish one another – Col. 3:16
15. Encourage each other – 1 Thess. 4:18
16. Edify one another – 1 Thess. 5:11
17. Spur one another on to love and good works – Heb. 10:24
18. Pray for one another – James 5:16
19. Be kindly affectionate to one another – Rom. 12:10
20. Be of the same mind toward one another – Rom. 12:16
21. Have the same care for one another to avoid schism – 1 Cor. 12:25
22. Do not provoke or envy one another – Gal. 5:26
23. Be Kind to one another – Eph. 4:32
24. Comfort one another – 1 Thess. 4:18
25. Exhort one another – Heb. 10:25
26. Do not speak evil of one another – Jam. 4:11
27. Do not grumble against one another – Jam. 5:9
28. Confess your trespasses to one another – Jam. 5:16
29. Have compassion for one another – 1 Peter 3:8
30. Be hospitable to one another – 1 Peter 4:9

That is only 30 things we are commanded by our Lord to do and not do for and to one another. Seems we have a ways to go.

Tomorrow we will learn how to fear God and honor the king.