"Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it." 1 Peter 3: 8-9.
Oh what a glorious place this would be if we all followed Peter's advice (above)! Read it again. Let it sink in.
Welcome! I am so glad you are here. I hope you are staying with the reading plan and are reading, pondering, and S.O.A.K.-ing your week in the Word of God. As a group, we are up to 1 Peter 3, but if you need to catch-up, that's okay. Grab a few quite moments to spend with your Lord today, before the festivities of the holiday weekend kick off!
There's a ton of good stuff in 1 Peter 3! However, the first seven verses are a bit of a 'pill' for me - hard to swallow! I get it and the notes in my study Bible explain these verses in such a way that help me to process the notion of "submission" and "weaker sex". But it's still "nails-on-a-chalkboard" for me to read those words. I think it's because they have often been used to the detriment of women; to justify men's 'superiority' over women and to keep women from being equals to men in all aspects of life. There is Scripture and examples of women throughout the Old and New Testaments that speak to the equality and strength of women. When I read the first 7 verses, I did it with gritted teeth and tried to silence the screaming feminist in my head :) If you don't have a Study Bible that can better explain what Peter is trying to say, let me know in the comments. I'll be happy to share the notes I have, but I really want to talk about verses 8 & 9!
With all the latest social unrest, wouldn't it be so wonderful if these verses could become the new mantra for America! It seems lately there is so much stirring of the pot of hatred that it's hard to see a bright future. The sad part is that much of the stirring is done by religious leaders and 'Christians' quoting the Bible. Why can't they quote this!? WHY CAN'T THEY QUOTE THIS!!!
I'm a bit of a romantic mixed with a realist, so I accept that
1) there is evil in the world
2) we all have bad days
3) we're not perfect.
Even the best intentioned person is going to say something against someone at some point; they will lose their temper, be in a bad mood or just totally lose it on some one! It's what happens after that, that makes all the difference. How do we respond, whether we are the one being negative or the recipient? If we could pause and bring to mind Peter's words to "... pay them back with a blessing." perhaps the Evening News would be filled with stories of hope & healing rather than bitterness, accusations, and strife.
Evil, circulating in society as discrimination, superiority, entitlement, vengeance, payback, retaliation, human justice, and all manner of negativity, fan the flames of hatred. God calls us to smother that fire with the cooling waters of Love, Grace, and Blessings.
When you have the opportunity to teach the next generation and influence your peers and children of all ages, teach them this: "Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it." 1 Peter 3: 8-9. If the world could embrace this - what a wonderful place it would be!
I'd love to read what this week's Scripture means to you. Leave a few thoughts in the Comments.
Be a blessing in the world today!
Your Partner in Ministry,
Shelly
warrior
"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." Proverbs 16:24
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