OCTOBER 21
THAT YOU MIGHT INHERIT A BLESSING
1 Peter 3:8-9
Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous, not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing. (WEB)
In the orphan world system we live in, if someone hurts us, we hurt them back. If someone insults us, we respond in kind. But the Apostle Peter tells us in today's Scripture reading that there is a better way for us to respond as sons and daughters of our Father.
He tells us that instead of returning evil for evil, we should be loving, tenderhearted, and courteous to those around us. He emphasizes that we should not only avoid evil, but also respond with blessings! This isn't the first time in the New Testament that we encounter this kind of response.
Paul wrote in Romans 12:13... Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse. (WEB) Jesus told His disciples in Luke 6:27-28... 27 “But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. (WEB) In verse 36 of the same chapter, Jesus reveals the reason why we can walk in such grace with others... Therefore, be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful. (WEB)
The reason we are called to respond with blessings when others mistreat us is because we are acting just like our Heavenly Father would! Since we are meant to inherit His blessing, we don't have to follow the same rules that the broken world system dictates. We don't have to take 'an eye for an eye.' We don't have to insult back when we are insulted.
Because we are a blessed people living under an open heaven with every spiritual blessing, we are called to extend blessings to others even in the most challenging circumstances. Can you imagine how the atmosphere would shift in your workplace if you became a conduit of blessings to everyone around you? Though they may continue to revile you, each time you send a blessing their way, you demonstrate the extravagant love and mercy that your Heavenly Father has poured out on you through Jesus!
May we all become so conscious of the countless blessings we inherit that we overflow with kindness and blessings to everyone we encounter, whether they deserve them or not... :)
Ephesians 1:3-4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ; 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love; (WEB)
Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous, not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing. (WEB)
In the orphan world system we live in, if someone hurts us, we hurt them back. If someone insults us, we respond in kind. But the Apostle Peter tells us in today's Scripture reading that there is a better way for us to respond as sons and daughters of our Father.
He tells us that instead of returning evil for evil, we should be loving, tenderhearted, and courteous to those around us. He emphasizes that we should not only avoid evil, but also respond with blessings! This isn't the first time in the New Testament that we encounter this kind of response.
Paul wrote in Romans 12:13... Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse. (WEB) Jesus told His disciples in Luke 6:27-28... 27 “But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. (WEB) In verse 36 of the same chapter, Jesus reveals the reason why we can walk in such grace with others... Therefore, be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful. (WEB)
The reason we are called to respond with blessings when others mistreat us is because we are acting just like our Heavenly Father would! Since we are meant to inherit His blessing, we don't have to follow the same rules that the broken world system dictates. We don't have to take 'an eye for an eye.' We don't have to insult back when we are insulted.
Because we are a blessed people living under an open heaven with every spiritual blessing, we are called to extend blessings to others even in the most challenging circumstances. Can you imagine how the atmosphere would shift in your workplace if you became a conduit of blessings to everyone around you? Though they may continue to revile you, each time you send a blessing their way, you demonstrate the extravagant love and mercy that your Heavenly Father has poured out on you through Jesus!
May we all become so conscious of the countless blessings we inherit that we overflow with kindness and blessings to everyone we encounter, whether they deserve them or not... :)
Ephesians 1:3-4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ; 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love; (WEB)