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. 1 Peter 3:9
Did you see that? You were called to this! That jumped out at me as I read the verse this time. Repaying or returning blessing is not one - though maybe the best - of many possible reactions. Returning blessing is not a suggestion or a nice bumper-sticker inspiration. Rather, to bless is why we were called in the first place. In this day of the celebration of karma pay-back, does this kind of thinking even compute anymore? Yet, to this you were called.
Do not repay (pay back, pay off, discharge as a debt, pay wages, what is due, requite, give back, recompense)
evil with evil (inner malice, what is worthless, depraved, injurious, bad, evil, harmful, ill, foul, rotten, poisoned)
or insult with insult (abuse, railing, reviling, reproach).
On the contrary (but, now),
repay evil with blessing (speak well of, praise, confer what is beneficial, thank or invoke a benediction upon),
because to this you were called (selected, roused, summoned, called by name)
so that you may inherit a blessing (benefit).
1 Peter 3:9
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:27-28
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Romans 12:14
But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:20-23
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 (ESV)
Photo by Jack Bair
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