I Peter 3:8-12, Suffering for Doing Good
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, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

Living in harmony is part of our Christian life. We are all part of one body and we must learn to work together to build God’s kingdom and glorify our Lord. When harmony is working well all of the parts of the body of Christ appreciate and honor one another. Harmony is also essential in warfare because all the army must work toward the same goals. Harmony and teamwork go hand in hand to bring success and accomplishment. In harmony we are sympathetic, compassionate, and humble to reveal and live out the heart of Jesus.

Why is harmony also important?

It increases the flow of the Holy Spirit.
In contention and strife the flow of the Holy Spirit can be blocked or hindered. The Holy Spirit moves to create love, peace, and compassion in the body of Christ.

Isaiah 63:10
Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.

 Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Allows us to hear the voice of God more clearly. Jesus went off by Himself to hear His Father.

Isaiah 40:28
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

1 Chronicles 17:20
There is no one like you, O LORD, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.

Deuteronomy 5:24
And you said, "The LORD our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a man can live even if God speaks with him.

Protects us from the enemy and temptation

For it is written: Luke 4:10 "He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully"

Provides a foundation for deeper relationships and more intimacy.

Job 29:4
Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house.

Helps provide a place of safety where we can be flexible to do the Lord’s work.

Job 11:18 says,
You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.

Promotes peace with the Lord and others.

Isaiah 26:3 tells us,
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

Gives us a way to work out conflicts and differences that pleases the Lord.

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

James 3:18
Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Allows the fruits of the Holy Spirit to be manifested.

Galatians 5:22-26 says,
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Harmony uses diversity to strengthen unity.
There are many different peoples and cultures but only one God.
Harmony draws us to worship, love and community with each other.

How do we stay in harmony?

Make the goal of our lives to focus on Jesus and exalt Him.

Hebrews 12:2 calls us;
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Pray for the gift of harmony in our lives.

Ephesians 1:16
I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers

Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Give up the right to be right. The Lord should be right for us.

Deuteronomy 3:24
"O Sovereign LORD, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do?"

Ask the Lord to help us concentrate on the virtues of others and not their faults.

Phillipians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Ask God for the gift to encourage and inspire everyone we can.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Being humble and ask the person’s help in our dealing with them.

Philippians 2:1
[ Imitating Christ's Humility ] If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness any compassion,

Count others as more important than ourselves. Then the Lord can use us as He wants.

Do your goals and dreams get in the way of your relationships?
Our dreams and goals need to build relationships with others to be successful.
What good do they do for others?
Can we see Jesus in our goals and plans? Is harmony with others an important part of our daily life?

Psalm 45:4
In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds.

Is power and control more important than harmony in Christ?

Romans 15:5
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,

Admit we are helpless to live in harmony unless Christ does this for us.

Job 24:22
But God drags away the mighty by his power; though they become established, they have no assurance of life.

Job 30:18
In his great power God becomes like clothing to me; he binds me like the neck of my garment.

2 Thessalonians 1:11
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.