A Whole Lot of Insulting Going On!

“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.”

I Peter 3:9

There’s a whole lot of insulting going on!

We think we are justified in repaying evil with evil or insult for insult.

You may even feel inclined to say:

“Well, after all, the Bible does say an eye for an eye...”

Yes, it does but that was under the law and not under grace.

Do you really want to live under the law?

Let me answer that for you – No, you certainly do not!

In so many places today we hear insults to others:

the political arena, the workplace and yes, even in our churches.

Shame on us if we practice that type of ‘repayment plan’.

It is not the pattern we are taught as followers of Christ.

Peter reminds us that we are to be like our Master, we are to repay evil with good.

We are to bless those who curse us.

It may not always be easy but it is always right.

Jesus’ words – “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” – are such a poignant reminder to us that He has called us to behave in a way that He modeled for us under circumstances where it certainly might seem justifiable to react in a hundred different ways other than forgiveness.

Yet that is exactly what Jesus did and what He has called us to do.

So today, if by chance, someone is less than kind to you – consider your response and bite your tongue if you are inclined to insult and not bless.

Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of what each of us is called to do!