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?