“Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” – 1 Peter 3:9
When we get this right, it’s such a powerful testimony to the unbelieving world!!! But it’s so hard to get it right, isnt it??? We sure do struggle with it, don’t we? Our flesh hates this command. Our nature yearns to pay people back for evils they have done. Our instincts are to fight fire with fire and return insults with insults. Far, far too many followers of Jesus fall into doing exactly that. Perhaps you do, too…
That isn’t the way of Jesus. It isn’t what you’ve been saved and raised to new spiritual life to do. You’re called and commanded to imitate Jesus. He didn’t resist those who spat on Him. He didn’t insult those who insulted Him. He didn’t fight back against those who arrested, tortured, or crucified Him. And if you’re a follower of Jesus, you’ve been repeatedly commanded to imitate Him.
Christians try to reason and excuse their way out of this command. But there is no valid way to avoid it. There is no excuse. You don’t get to pay people back for their evil deeds. To do so is a sin. Instead, you’re called to bless them and be blessed by the Lord for it. You don’t get to insult people back for their foul words about you. To do so is a sin. Instead, you’re called to bless them and be blessed by the Lord for it.
Ultimately, it’s a matter of who do you want to please when your blood is boiling? Do you want to please yourself and your pride? Or do you want to please your Lord and Savior? Think carefully about this command because it’s hard to rise above your nature, walk in the nature of Christ, and truly #FollowJesus