"Moving to the Next Level"

“Moving to the Next Level”

We’re living in a world filled with hatred of those who differ from one another politically, racially, religiously and even in sports rivalries. Rather than seeking to disagree agreeably many resort to misrepresentations, name-calling and violence. News accounts are filled with the outcomes (sometimes tragic) of this lack of civility and respect for differences.

The Apostle Peter lived and ministered in the mid first century, a period of increasing hostility and persecution of Jesus’ followers during Nero’s reign. He wrote his first letter to encourage the early church during these challenging times. In so doing he tells his friends (and us today), “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:9). Here we find another “put off/put on” along with the result of our act of obedience.

Our Lord’s friend counsels his readers to avoid pay backs. This is often the human reaction when we’re wronged in some way (or think we’ve been). Paul had written a few years previously, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.” (Romans 12:17). Instead, we’re to replace a desire for revenge with blessing. This may be the last thing we want to do when we’re misunderstood and/or mistreated, but again Peter and Paul are in agreement (“Bless those who persecute you {who are cruel in their attitude toward you}; bless and do not curse them.”—Romans 12:14, Amplified Bible). Hard to do? Yes—but remember Paul’s words: “…I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.” (Philippians 4:13, NLT, emphasis added). (As I wrote the above I had to pause and ask God’s forgiveness for not practicing this in a situation I’m currently dealing with.) The outcome of our obedience in this (and every other) area of my life is God’s blessing (“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”—John 13:17, emphasis added).

In his helpful analysis of 1 Peter, Be Hopeful, Warren Wiersbe observes, “As Christians, we can live on one of three levels. We can return evil for good, which is the satanic level. We can return good for good and evil for evil, which is the human level. Or we can return good for evil, which is the divine level.” Jesus has set the example (“When they hurled insults at him, he did not retaliate….”—1 Peter 2:23). So I must choose to live on His or a lower level. May I make the right choice!

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan