Happy Wednesday Saints.
1Peter 3:9 “DON’T REPAY EVIL FOR EVIL. DON’T RETALIATE WITH INSULTS WHEN PEOPLE INSULT YOU. INSTEAD, PAY THEM BACK WITH A BLESSING. THAT IS WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO, AND HE WILL GRANT YOU HIS BLESSING.”
Facing opposition when you do the will of God is not new. It’s not abnormal or uncommon. It’s a regular occurrence.
1Peter 4:12 says, “DEAR FRIENDS, DO NOT BE SURPRISED AT THE FIERY ORDEAL THAT HAS COME UPON YOU TO TEST YOU, AS THOUGH SOMETHING STRANGE WERE HAPPENING TO YOU.”
The Apostle Paul stated in 2Timothy 3:12 that “EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS WILL BE PERSECUTED.”
So, being challenged while you seek to fulfil the will of God is not STRANGE. Don’t let the FIERY ORDEAL dishearten you and cause you to retaliate with hateful or spiteful behaviour towards those who are opposing you.
Today’s passage instructs us to PAY THEM BACK WITH A BLESSING.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:44 to “LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, BLESS THEM THAT CURSE YOU, DO GOOD TO THEM THAT HATE YOU, AND PRAY FOR THEM WHICH DESPITEFULLY USE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU.”
It’s all about JESUS. It’s about loving others the way JESUS loves you. It’s about living for JESUS and being gracious to EVERYONE. It’s about being consistent with EVERYONE and showing them that you belong to CHRIST.
Whether your opposition is an individual or a collective – LOVE, BLESS, DO GOOD and PRAY for them. THAT IS WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO, AND HE WILL GRANT YOU HIS BLESSING.
Have a great day walking in God’s higher way of LOVE.
God bless and lots’a love,
Warren
