1 Peter 3:15-16 (ESV)
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always
being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the
hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good
conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good
behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
Somewhere today, a child will remind her parents that
respect must be mutual. Moms and dads may not like hearing that, but it’s true.
The bars of our prisons become all the more poisonous when guards treat their
wards as if they’re subhuman and prisoners consider their guards only as
objects of dirt and ridicule. Mutual respect is essential for relationships at
home, church, and everywhere else.
Peter calls us to “be like-minded” and “love one another,”
calling for sympathy, compassion, and humility. Can we summarize these with one
word: respect? At least in part. Respect calls for relating in ways that
acknowledge our identity as image bearers of God and recipients of his divine
love.
Peter reminds us that we should not expect to be harmed for
doing good. But if that happens, we can count it as a blessing of honor. After
all, Jesus suffered for doing good, didn’t he? We are to explain why we act the
way we do in the light of our confession that Jesus is Lord. But the manner of
our explanation must show respect for our questioner along with a gentleness
that echoes the love of the Savior.
This means responding in such a way that malicious accusers
will be ashamed. It means letting our actions speak louder than our words.
Dear Lord, thank You for the respect You show us in your
gentle dealing with us, despite our sins. Empower us to see You in others and
to respect them as objects of Your love. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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