June 19 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

Peter's first epistle is addressed to "strangers in the world," who have their homeland in heaven. They are not surprised that they suffer when they do what is right. They follow the footprints of Jesus.

Bible Reading:

1 Peter 3:8–12

Bible Text:

All of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble

mind (1 Pet. 3:8, NRSV).

Devotional:

God's grace changes us from selfish sinners to members of a harmonious household of God. Since this grace is a gift from God, we must always pray. But our new life-style is also an attitude to be cultivated. We must always be learning together.

Unity and harmony, indispensable qualities in any household, are definite requirements for those who form the family of God. If God's children don't live in harmony, their talk about God's love is not credible.

"Sympathy" and "love for one another" are evidences of a change in our lives. By nature our hearts are closed to the concerns and pains of others. The wisdom of unspiritual people says we should all mind our own business. But when the fingers of God's grace open the doors and windows of our hearts, we become sensitive to the cares of others. Sympathy and love enter. And with them joy and peace slip in.

Instead of a hard heart and a proud mind we need a "tender heart" and a "humble mind." Again, these virtues are gifts of God. They descend on us in answer to prayer as soft rain on hard soil. But we must also work to cultivate this new attitude. We have to unlearn bad habits and realize that tough individualism and proud minds are weeds that don't belong in the garden of God.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.