1 Peter 3:8-9
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;
9 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.
This morning I want to talk to you about unity. We must have compassion for one another.
Compassion: A feeling of sympathy for someone who is suffering, and a desire to help them.
You may see someone hurting, sick, or in pain and feel for them in a way you want to help them. We have done that at times with people in our church family. When someone had surgery not too long ago on their shoulder we created a meal train so that people could help them with a meal.
The other way we may help is when someone has been sick or out of a job for a while then we may help them by paying an electric bill or water bill or just giving them money.
In 1 Peter 3:8 it says we must love, be tenderhearted, and be courteous. Do you remember that old song that we used to sing
"Be careful little mouth what you say, Be careful little mouth what you say, for the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little mouth what you say."
Be very careful about what you say about others. Always remember that someone may be hurting in a way that you don't understand.
We must work together in unity.
In 1 Peter 3:9 says "not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling."
First of all reviling means "criticize in an abusive or angrily, insulting manner."
Remember when someone does you wrong and the bible says to turn the other cheek. When someone is mean to us we are not in the right to be mean to them back.
So what about a unity story in the Bible?
Actually there are a few and I will give you a couple of quick stories. The first one takes place in Ruth chapter 1.
In Ruth it talks about a famine that took place in the land of Bethlehem. Elimelech & Naomi with their two sons went to the country of Moab and remained there. Then Elimelech died. Then her sons took wives and after many years her two sons died.
After this Naomi decided that she would return to Judah in Bethlehem. Naomi and her daughter-in-laws left and after they left Naomi told her them to return to Moab and let her go alone. She told them that she had no more sons to give them as husbands.
Orpah decided she would return to Moab, however Ruth said I will go where you go, sleep where you sleep, and eat what you eat and will be with you all the way to Judah.
This is someone who would walk with her and unite for Naomi, because you loved and cared about her that much.
We later see a similar story with Jacob and Esau in Genesis chapter 33. When Esau was coming toward Jacob with four hundred men. Jacob was expecting to be killed by Esau and he bow to the ground seven times before Esau and his men.
It goes back to an earlier time when Rebekah convinces Jacob to steal away Esau's birthright and Jacob convinces his father that he is Esua. Even goes as far as to wear his clothes and wear the skin of the kids of the goats on his hands and the smooth part of his neck.
When Esau sees Jacob and recognizes him he runs to meet Jacob and throws his arms around him, and kisses his cheek. Then they wept.
After all that Jacob had done to steel Esua's birthright he still put that aside and embraced his brother in the love of God.
We must be in unity, in one accord.
When we are against each other in the church the Bible says that it will bring division. Why? Because this give the devil the opportunity to come into your mind and convince you that what they said was not right and they should have never said or did that. And then your mind only comes up with more problems.
We need to get along with each other and not be fight with one another.
Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
Ecclesiastes 4:12
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
If we be in Christ then we must work together for the Kingdom Of Heaven and not fight, argue, or back bite against one another.
In Acts chapter 2 it said that they were all together praying together and in one accord for a common goal to receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit.