- Joined
- Oct 26, 2007
- Messages
- 12,544
Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9
How do you respond when someone, intentionally or unintentionally, does you wrong or insults you? It’s a rare person who doesn’t feel anger and a desire for some payback when someone has done or said something that insults them. But while the anger may sometimes be justified, God tells you that your response to those who do you wrong is to…well, bless that person.
Your fallen human nature being what it is, you’re prone to think that you’re entitled to a little vengeance when you’ve been wronged or to a few sharp, biting comebacks when someone speaks unkind words to you. But God tells you that your responses to evil should be compassionate, kind, and understanding.
On a purely practical level, you need to remember that you can’t know what’s going on inside the mind of the person who does unkind things and speaks unkind words to you. But God does, and that’s one of the reasons He tells you to repay evil and insults with blessings.
No one likes being hurt or insulted. But as a Christian, you must see those unpleasant moments not as negatives but as opportunities to bless those who need God’s touch in their lives and to receive God’s blessings on yourself.
How do you respond when someone, intentionally or unintentionally, does you wrong or insults you? It’s a rare person who doesn’t feel anger and a desire for some payback when someone has done or said something that insults them. But while the anger may sometimes be justified, God tells you that your response to those who do you wrong is to…well, bless that person.
Your fallen human nature being what it is, you’re prone to think that you’re entitled to a little vengeance when you’ve been wronged or to a few sharp, biting comebacks when someone speaks unkind words to you. But God tells you that your responses to evil should be compassionate, kind, and understanding.
On a purely practical level, you need to remember that you can’t know what’s going on inside the mind of the person who does unkind things and speaks unkind words to you. But God does, and that’s one of the reasons He tells you to repay evil and insults with blessings.
No one likes being hurt or insulted. But as a Christian, you must see those unpleasant moments not as negatives but as opportunities to bless those who need God’s touch in their lives and to receive God’s blessings on yourself.
