August 3, 2023

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8-9 – “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”

What it means

Yet another difficult challenge to you and I from scripture – this from the apostle Peter telling us that we have to be compassionate and humble, and not return evil for evil but blessing instead. That’s tough to do, no doubt about it…and yet, like most scripture, this isn’t a suggestion but a commandment – “you were called”. A difficult assignment, but what’s our motivation? Read on in verses 10-12: “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they 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.”

What it means to me

Actually, verses 10-12 are our how-to manual in addition to our motivation! They are a direct reference to Psalm 34:12-16. Keep our tongue from evil and our lips from deceitful speech…again, the task is a difficult one, but God gives provides the power to actually pull this off. It goes on to say that the eyes of the Lord will be on the righteous (i.e. – those who keep their tongue from evil in this particular instance). So, let’s be kind, sympathetic, love one another, compassionate and humble – and in doing so, we will “inherit a blessing”…sounds good to me!

Love you guys, see you Sunday!

In Christ,

Brian