“⁸Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” – 1 Peter 3:8 (ESV)

Peter has been indicating submission, whether to authority or your husband or wife. In the above verse, he is giving the approach to that submission, including with a tender heart.

I have to remember that it is not my words, but my heart that the LORD is reviewing. He lives in my heart and I am to live from the inside and allow the Holy Spirit to guide me from my heart. And where I am to fear the wrath of God, I also have to remember that He is a gentle and caring God that loves me and wants only the best for me. I have to give that same approach to those around me.

I have to have a tender heart when doing the LORD’s Work in this world. There are those who will want to wreck me and all that I am doing for the LORD. I have to defend the LORD, but that defense is in a tender and loving way that comes from my heart and Christ who resides there.

How do you approach the world? Are you treating it the way it treats you? What if you were to be tender with the world as the LORD is tender with you?