As God is love, and has loved us in Christ through the gospel, we are encouraged to love one another. Out of the plethora of scriptures that encourage us to do so, I would like to take a look at one in particular. The goal is that we grow in the way we consider others in the household of faith.

The scripture I want to consider is 1 Peter 3:7. It is addressed to husbands, but the principles enjoined there are appropriate for all of us in our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

After reminding us of the rich mercies of God and the heavenly inheritance secured to us through Jesus Christ, the Apostle Peter encourages us to good works in the context of our varied relationships.

In addressing husbands he says “live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”

In our relationships with one another in the body, Roman 12:10 encourages us to “outdo one another in showing honor.” Ephesians 3:6 declares that Jews and Gentiles are “fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” What then of the admonition for husbands to honor their wives “so that [their] prayers may not be hindered”?

One pastor used this analogy – suppose a father had a daughter whom he dearly loved and the daughter was married to a man whom was mistreating her? If that husband came to the father and asked for his favor in some manner, how ‘unhindered’ would the father’s response be to such a request?

Hindered, I think. Why? Because the father loves his daughter and cares for her.

Likewise, our Father in heaven loves his children. In the Beloved, Jesus Christ, he has adopted us to himself and set his love upon us (Ephesians 1:5-6). He knows we will not love our brothers and sisters perfectly, but he calls us to pay attention to how he loves and to imitate that love (Ephesians 5:1-2).

He loves forgivingly, patiently, and with long suffering. He loves without distinction. In 1 John 5:1 we read, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.”

When tempted for whatever reason to look unfavorably on a fellow believer, be reminded that God the Father is looking favorably on them. They are his beloved. And so are you.