19 Apr 2012
I Peter 3:9
I Peter 3:9: “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
This is a hard thing to do – to bless those that curse us; to be a blessing to people who take advantage of us, despise us, and seek to harm us. Yet that is God’s will for our lives. We are not to return evil for evil or rail against those who rail against us; instead we are to bless those that hate us and pray for those who curse us. We are commanded to seek the welfare of those who would kill us if they have the chance.
Is that a hard thing? Absolutely. But God has given us a promise:
Proverbs 25:21: “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.”
It may be that in this life the person will never show the slightest sign of regret. We may not live to see the “coals of fire”. Yet, they will come, for God always keeps His promises. The Lord has promised to reward us for this – and He will.