REPAY EVIL WITH BLESSING

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Today’s Reading:

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" (v. 9)

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God speaking to all Christians through Apostle Peter that we need to produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit and also make people around us see the life of Jesus Christ in us. He specifically mentioned that all of us should have unity of spirit (live in harmony with one another), sympathy, love, tender heart and a humble mind. He was not really talking to unbelievers because they cannot produce what they don’t have. It is only those who have the spirit of God that can produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit that was deposited in them at the new birth.

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). We may be tempted to repay “evil for evil”. We will want to treat people the way they are treating us. Because they hurt us, we want to hurt them back. Maybe we found out that they are slandering us, instead of slandering back, we will simply ignore them. We will give them the silent treatment. As the followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to live by example, to bless the one who hurt (or is hurting) us. That means that we wish them well. We pray (positively) for them. We respond with kindness and compassion even when it isn’t reciprocated. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:44 “But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”.

The result is that we may obtain a blessing. God is watching and will reward us one day. But presently, we will not have all of the emotional and physical problems that are associated with stress and unforgiveness. Apostle Paul in Romans 12: 17-21 says live at peace with everyone, allow God to avenge for you. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink, in doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good or blessing. Returning good for evil is unnatural-it requires complete dependence upon the Holy Spirit to do this work in us. We cannot consistently act this way without Him.

Let the life of Jesus Christ be seen in you, He is our example. Pray for grace to mature to the fullness of his stature. He was persecuted, insulted, flogged, nailed, and killed for our sake.

OLAJIDE OGUNFUWA

Prayers:

1. Father help me to declare a blessing on people who persecute me instead of evil, in Jesus name.

2. Holy Spirit fill me with your power and grace to represent Jesus Christ well on earth, in Jesus name.

3. I receive the unction to depend completely on the Holy Spirit to manifest the life of Christ, in Jesus name.

4. Lord Jesus, deliver our Nation Nigeria from wickedness, evil and violence, in Jesus name.

5. Let there be love, peace, harmony among all the Christian leaders, in Jesus name, Amen.