"Good for Evil" December 1 Readings: Hosea 8-10, 1 Peter 3, Psalm 135:15–21, Proverbs 29:14–16

 

 Through the Bible in 2021

Bible Readings:  Hosea 8-10, 1 Peter 3, Psalm 135:15–21, Proverbs 29:14–16  

Daily Devotional:  Good for Evil

I have always had trouble responding to criticism. Normally, I handle it pretty well when it is being given - God has often given me that grace to listen to people as they rail against my abundant inadequacies. It is afterward that the trouble sets in. Sometimes it is anger; sometimes it is paralyzing sorrow or depression. I used to call them my "fetal position" days - when all I wanted to do was curl up on my bed in a ball and block out the world. I either wanted to strike back and block out the world.

None of us particularly likes to be criticized, bashed, persecuted, blamed, railed against, or in any other way spoken ill of, do we?

IIn 2003 I began writing a little email blast called "WORD Processing" that seemed to bless quite a few people but also drew a few critical remarks. I found myself crumbling under the lightest of disagreements or insults. As time went on I got involved in blogging and God opened doors for me to become the editor of one of the most active blogs in my denomination. With the name recognition and encouragement came harsh criticism. If you look (and you don't have to look hard) you can find blog posts calling me a variety of names!

I found as time went on those criticisms and insults tended to hurt less - I even found them amusing and entertaining at times. Instead of crumbling before criticism, I found myself hardened to it. But neither of those responses is healthy or godly. Peter, in 1 Peter 3, describes how we should handle the opposition and persecution we receive for doing the work of God.

Everything we do must flow from the purpose of God in our lives In verse 18, Peter describes the work of Christ powerfully and holds that up as our model for life.

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.

As Christ suffered for our sins to bring the unrighteous to God, we should be willing to suffer in the name of Christ to accomplish the work of Christ in this world. As Jesus said repeatedly in his teachings, it is only our suffering "for righteousness sake" that is blessed. I cannot suffer for being a jerk and expect to be rewarded by God!

Here is the hard part, the part we don't want to admit or deal with! Serving Jesus brings a life of suffering, hardship, heartache, opposition, and even persecution. 

The entire passage is worth meditating on, absorbing, ruminating on deeply, but the heart and soul of it is verses 8 and 9. 

Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another,and be compassionate and humble, 9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.

We must put unity and the needs of others ahead of our own feelings and goals. We are servants in the Body of Christ, who according to Paul are to put the needs of others even about our own (Philippians 2). We must maintain this humble, tender, sympathetic, and godly spirit. That is so difficult because a humble and tender spirit will be trounced repeatedly in a world like ours. But we must strive for it anyway. 

We are to bless even those who revile us. That is not easy. Try it next time someone blasts your soul to the core - respond with a blessing! It will be the hardest thing you've ever done. But, Peter says, this is our calling from Christ, based on how he lived his life. 

The goal in all of this is verse 16. Peter tells us to live lives of such holiness and love that when people do slander us, they are the ones who are shamed for their slander. And if we do suffer, verse 17 says, suffer for doing what is right, not for doing what is wrong. 

I could live the rest of my life and never perfectly live out these verses, but it is a noble goal, a Christ-like goal. May God make the words of 1 Peter 3:8-22 a reality in my life and in yours - more and more every day. 

Father, the ideal you set in this passage is not the life I have lived! I've returned evil for evil. I've not been the humble servant my Savior was and called me to be. But I pray you will make me more like that every day. 

Consider God's Word:

Which of the readings spoke most powerfully to you today?
Is the Spirit of God moving you to repent of something you are doing, to begin something new, or to change something about your life as a result of your readings? What?

Think of those who have persecuted or harassed you. Do you respond with anger and vengeance, repaying evil for evil? 

Or do you live as Christ, returning good for evil?

Think of the people who have hurt you the most. What would it look like if you put these verses into effect? 

Pray for strength to do that.