Called to Do Good
1 Peter 3:8-12 (NIV) 8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 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. 10 For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
As I was meditating on these words, I turned to Psalm 34, the source for these verses. David had foolishly turned to the Philistines for help as he was running from Saul. This action falls under the heading of “What was he thinking?” Had he forgotten his encounter with Goliath? Well, the Philistines had not forgotten. In order to escape, David feigned madness and took refuge in a cave.
Peter reminds his listeners of David’s words, and I love the way “The Message” says it: Run after peace for all you’re worth. Isn’t that a wonderful counsel? For those of us who feel we must have the last word, remember, when seeking peace, the last word should be a blessing.
May we today and every day be mindful that God wants the very best for us, and that includes forgoing pettiness and retaliation in exchange for love and kindness.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Seeking Holiness 