Read 1 Peter 3:8–12
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. 1 Peter 3:9

As Christians, we can live on one of three levels. We can return evil for good, which is the satanic level. We can return good for good and evil for evil, which is the human level. Or, we can return good for evil, which is the divine level. Jesus is the perfect example of this latter approach (see 2:21– 23). As God’s loving children, we must not give “eye for eye, and tooth for tooth” (see Matt. 5:38–48). We must operate on the basis of mercy, for that is the way God deals with us.

We must always be reminded of our calling as Christians, for this will help us love our enemies and do them good when they treat us badly (see Luke 6:27). We are called to “inherit a blessing.” The persecutions we
experience on earth today only add to our blessed inheritance of glory in heaven someday (Matt. 5:10–12). But we also inherit a blessing today
when we treat our enemies with love and mercy. By sharing a blessing with them, we receive a blessing ourselves! Persecution can be a time of spiritual enrichment for believers.

Something to Ponder
When was the last time you returned good for evil? How did it make you feel?