1 Peter 3:8-4:6 – Do YOU need a heart transplant? 

It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing…1pet.3:8-9

As I was refreshing my mind, thinking of any good examples to illustrate what I get from this verse, one particular incident stirred my heart. It was not a good experience; in fact, it’s something that I feel embarrassed of. 

This incident occurred at the end of a class session. Two classmates approach me to team up with them for the big project. My mind could only think of the previous experiences that I have gotten while working with them. I blurted out (without thinking, literally without even thinking!!!>_<”)  “No way! I’m probably gonna do the most work again while you guys are lazing around.”

I was dumbfounded when I realized what I have said (I have a bad habit of saying things out without thinking *Grrrrr). Feeling bad, and stupefied, I took my bag and ran away from the super-embarrassing moment >.<”. I could not even remember how they responded to that mean statement that I made. I feel so guilty, and I could not stop thinking about it for a few days. I have hurt their feelings and pride by the blunt rejection. I feel like a total hypocrite. Who am I to judge others?

Matt 7:3-5 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”

Therefore, reading this verse just takes me back and reflects upon where my heart is leading me. How is my little heart doing? It’s not about washing my mouth; it’s about cleaning the black spots in my heart. It does not matter if you are careful about what you say or what you do, but the heart is saying the other thing.

Let’s ask ourselves, is there any certain time schedule to love one another (e.g only do it on Sundays or during care group)? Are we just compassionate towards our friends, co-workers, or the people we like in the church? 

When we look again into what Jesus has been doing in his ministries, it is not just about doing good according to a certain standards. But it is HIS HEART.

“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”1 peter 4:1-2

An author wrote this: “A church is not a school where u learns disciplinary; it is a hospital where you get a heart transplant.” Let’s go back to HIS WORDS and check out WHY are/should we doing exactly the things that Jesus does.

Find out His heart, and you will find yours. For now, I still have to find mine.    

Carolyn Djuniar