1 Peter 3:8-9
Finally, all of you should agree and have concern and love for each other. You should also be kind and humble. Don’t be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God’s chosen ones, and he will bless you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Be honest… when someone says something unkind to you – or behaves in a way that is hateful or insults you – don’t you sometimes wish you could retaliate? We’ve probably all at least secretly wished we could make the person who hurt us feel just as badly – if only so he/she would know how we felt! Or maybe someone has mistreated you in some way, and then something unpleasant happened to them. Were you even a little glad inside? Did you feel like he/she got what was coming?
It is terribly hard for us as human beings to fully implement this scripture passage. We are simply not programmed to turn the other cheek, so to speak, and to love those who are hateful and insult us. And the devil is right there to whisper in our ear that the other guy deserves whatever we dish out in return. It would be so easy to strike back when we are “wronged.” We would find it so easy to give the other person a hefty dose of whatever he/she doled out in our direction.
We must work diligently to implement the teachings of this scripture passage. After all… look how terribly we have treated Jesus, yet he offers us love and kindness. He does not retaliate… Jesus never treats us hatefully or insults us.
How badly do you want to be a disciple of Christ? Do you truly desire to be like Him… to be His hands and feet to others…to love unconditionally and demonstrate His grace, mercy and forgiveness? If so, you must do everything you can to express kindness and humility… to treat others better than they sometimes deserve… and to love even those who would mistreat you in some way.
This is a tall order… but one that is extremely important to God. He will give you the strength and courage to implement these behaviors – if only you will ask Him. Don’t get caught up in the “tit for tat” game. Take the high road… share the love of Christ with everyone – even those who treat you hatefully and insult you. Let God handle those who behave this way… and glorify Him with YOUR behavior. Don’t do this because He will bless you – although He surely will! Treat others with respect, dignity and kindness because of Jesus, who loved us enough to give His very life. He would never treat us this way. Love others as Jesus would… and let God handle the rest.
©2013 Debbie Robus
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