Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 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 3:8-9)
It’s all well and good having pleasant sentiments about how we’re supposed to be holy as God is holy. It’s even uplifting to know we’re called to be the living temple of God. The tricky bit is when rubber hits the road, especially as we consider the impact of holy living in relationships.
When someone has wronged us it is more than natural that there’s a response to either respond with similar evil behaviour or choose to be dismissive of the relationship altogether. Yet holy living, as Peter presents, calls for us to continue to apply the same loving approach we would to a cherished family member.
Responding to evil by blessing goes against the grain. It is not a natural reaction. It is not something we can get the willpower to exercise and maintain. It takes the holy life of the holy God motivating all actions for us to be able to give that kind of response.
Peter gives a great example of that in action with reference to the suffering Saviour who still endured the Christ to open up the way of life for the very people who were committed to killing Him.
There is the move to state that it would have been easy for Jesus because He was the Son of God. In making that claim, however, we forget that the life of Christ showed us the way we can live when we are filled with the Spirit and focused on the Father for direction.
So on the surface it is not natural, but experience has shown that life in the Spirit can make such responses possible and desirable. I recall one man I knew very well subjected to terrible treatment by members of the church including the leadership. I was surprised at how he maintained his positive and peaceful demeanour. In all of the mistreatment he never once spoke bad of those mistreating him. In the church meetings that took place he remained respectful and helpful. Indeed if you considered his behaviour you would not have told that he was the subject of such mistreatment.
I asked him how he was able to behave in such a way for so long while others were being so hurtful with no respite. He referred me to the scriptures like these. He also said that for the sake of the purity of his own soul he could not afford to have anything other than a sympathetic and compassionate heart to those who mistreated him. As far as he was concerned they were in need of the mercies of God as he was. That focus on the merciful God enabled him to keep a constructive approach to life in the church for a few years before he left the country to settle in the country of his origin.
It’s one thing to see Peter encouraging us to appreciate this is holy living. It’s even better to see that encouragement lived out under trying circumstances and a man’s purity and peace maintained leaving a positive impact for a young brother looking to practice holy living.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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