Practice it at Home
Getting even feels natural, and at the moment, probably feels good.
Someone says something unkind, and we want to say something back. Someone treats us unfairly, and we want to make sure they know it. That instinct shows up in adults and kids alike, and it shows up most inside our own homes. Peter has something to say about that, and he points us toward a different way of living.
Let’s look at what he says.
Bible Focus
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For
‘Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’”
Devotional Thoughts
Peter gives five qualities that should mark the way believers treat each other: unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. These are the everyday choices that make a home feel like a safe place to belong.
Every family has moments where people aren’t seeing eye to eye. Unity of mind isn’t about agreeing on everything. It’s about belonging to the same Jesus and letting that shape how we treat each other. A humble mind just means we stop making everything about us. Those two things would go a long way in most homes.
Peter then adds something that goes against everything we naturally want to do. When someone treats us badly, we bless them instead of getting even. That is only possible when we remember how Jesus has treated us. He didn’t repay us for our sin. He took it on himself so we could be forgiven.
Peter closes with a quote from Psalm 34 that ties it all together. Watch your words. Turn from evil. Do good. Seek peace and go after it. The Lord sees the righteous and hears their prayers.
That is what it looks like when Jesus is at the center of a home.
Family Questions
These questions are meant to start a real conversation. Feel free to reword them for younger kids or let older ones sit with the harder ones a little longer.
Peter lists five qualities that should mark how we treat each other. Which one is hardest for you and why?
Peter says to bless people who treat you badly instead of getting even. What makes that so hard to do?
How does remembering what Jesus has done for us change the way we treat others?
Family Prayer
Father, thank You for sending Jesus to show us what it looks like to love others well. Help our family choose unity, kindness, and humility even when it’s hard. When someone treats us badly, remind us of how Jesus has treated us and give us the strength to bless them instead. In Jesus’ name, amen.
This Week’s Challenge
Pick one of the five qualities Peter lists this week and look for a specific way to practice it inside your home. At the end of the week talk about what was easy, what was hard, and what Jesus showed you through it.
Explore More 1 Peter Devotions
How We Treat Each Other Matters | 1 Peter 3:1–7 | 5-Minute Family Devotions
Follow His Example | 1 Peter 2:18–25 | 5-Minute Family Devotions
Honor Everyone | 1 Peter 2:13–17 | 5-Minute Family Devotions
Family Discipleship Recommendations
Looking for more ways to disciple your family? Explore Bible studies, devotionals, and practical tools here: Family Resources at Discipleship Cliff
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