Friday, February 28, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: 1 Peter 3

Conversations that leave you feeling completely seen and heard are incredibly fulfilling, aren’t they? 

Our communication with others can be life-giving, but when we aren’t considerate of the other person’s temperament, they can also be life-taking.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul encourages us to “Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do” (Philippians 4:5).

Be considerate. It’s a call to action!

Showing consideration toward others can present itself in many ways, shapes, and forms. It can be as simple as saying “good morning” to the greeter at the front of the grocery store or asking a friend how things are going for them before jumping into your daily download. But sometimes it’s not so easy.

Let’s not skip over the part of the verse that says “in all you do.”

As obvious as it may be that apologizing for saying something harsh is a considerate next step in resolving conflict, it's often very difficult to take.

As we navigate our path to be more like Jesus, we can learn from how he interacted and reacted to people around him. We can see that Jesus’ life on earth was full of considerate acts and conversations, including his ultimate act of love for us and our salvation.

He offered words of hope, kindness, compassion, and friendship. He made room for us to learn and grow, even when we were inconsiderate of him and questioned his righteousness.

We are called to have the same attitude as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2: 5-7), and one way to do this is by learning to shift our verbal actions and reactions to be considerate in ALL we do.

You are probably thinking back on the last heated conversation you had with a friend or loved one as you read this. If you are wondering if you’ll ever be able to choose to be considerate in those battles … the answer is “Yes, you can!” We can all take steps toward exiting the crazy cycle.

Looking at the life Jesus lived on this earth, we can continue to learn from it and be thankful for his example. We have been given this moment, right now, to choose our attitude and be a considerate, Christ-like contributor in all our relationships.  

Philippians 4:5
Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Questions: 
What does being considerate look like to you? What steps do you need to take in your relationships with friends and loved-ones to make amends or be better when you communicate?

Next Steps: 
Use the examples Jesus showed us, and take steps to learn more about your temperaments and those of your loved ones. Allow room for your verbal actions and reactions to be considerate in ALL you do. You can find examples of what it means to be considerate in the Bible. Try these verses to start digging deeper: Philippians 2:4-7, Titus 3:2, James 3:17, and Matthew 7:12.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, I’m so thankful for you and the living example you offer us. Thank you for the stories we have in the Bible that let us know more about you. Please help me leave others feeling fulfilled, seen, and heard in each conversation I have today. Allow each encounter to offer an image of you and your consideration for us. I love you, I trust you, and I worship you. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:
Ephesians 4:29
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

This post was written by Lori Tuckerman, Director of Content for the LivingItOut Devotional.