Last week, our passage found Peter giving specific instructions to husbands and wives. This week, in 1 Peter 3:8-11, he returns to addressing the whole church. As we begin this week’s devotions, keep in mind what is currently happening to the church. Whether this letter was written just before or after Rome was burned is unclear. What is clear, though, is that animosity and hatred toward Christians are intensifying. They are literally living in fear for their lives, and many would suffer greatly for their beliefs.

Peter begins by encouraging them to live and make choices that could turn the hearts of their enemies to Jesus as their Savior. He says this will require them to be of one mind, to sympathize with each other, to love one another as brothers and sisters, to be tenderhearted, and to keep a humble attitude. Easy enough, right? But imagine if you were part of the early church, living in constant fear for your life. How would you act? Would the daily stress allow you to be kind and loving? Would concern for your family and friends allow you to be tender and humble?

For today, let’s focus on the charge “to be of one mind.” Some Bible translations say “like-minded” or “harmonious.” This does not mean that everyone agrees on everything, all the time. Rather, as author and Bible teacher Jen Wilkin says, “It is agreeing on the spine issues, the essentials of our faith.” For instance, this would include what we believe about the Bible, salvation, or the Trinity. Wilkin adds, “When we have division, it is often rooted more in our lack of humility in our thinking than in actually feeling stronger about a particular point of division.”

I believe Peter is encouraging all of us, as the church, to keep the main thing the main thing. Living in unity with our brothers and sisters will draw the lost to Christ—and that is our main calling as the church.