Verse of the Day 10/14

1 Peter 3:9-10 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary,bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. ¹⁰ For

"Whoever desires to love life
    and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
    and his lips from speaking deceit;  English Standard Version (ESV)

  

I believe that I had heard that somewhere around 80 million people tuned in to watch the second presidential debate that was held recently.  Personally, I did watch it and it was almost unbearable at times.  Most of it was about trying to tear each other down, pointing fingers and accusing of lies, deceptions, cover-ups and other improprieties.  Finally, the last question was given by someone from the audience who asked each candidate to say something good about their opponent.

The question for us is, do we get caught up in those same kind of discussions, do we use similar tactics to get our way to "win" at all costs whether at work, at home or in our churches?  Are we motivated to get back at someone when we've been wronged, or perceive that we've been wronged?  Peter gives us sobering, humbling advice "don't repay evil for evil, reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless."

The candidates are seeking office and it doesn't seem like they are too concerned about serving, it seems to be more about winning, largely for themselves.  We should desire to "love life and see good days".  If we want to do so we'll need to keep our tongues in check, from speaking lies and deceitful things.

Read the passage from The Message below which begins in verse 8 with -"Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing."  ...."Snub evil and cultivate good;  run after peace for all you're worth."   If that is our goal, we'll make the world around us a better place.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

1 Peter 3:9-12The Message (MSG)

Suffering for Doing Good

^8-12 Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing.

Whoever wants to embrace life
    and see the day fill up with good,
Here's what you do:
    Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
    run after peace for all you're worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
    listening and responding well to what he's asked;
But he turns his back
    on those who do evil things.