1 Peter 3:9 KJV
There have been times in our lives when someone has been falsely accused of something.
We see it in the daily news, on our jobs, in our personal lives, no matter where we are.
That someone could be one of us.
As a result, some form of punishment is placed on the person or persons.
Be it imprisonment, loss of a job, or damage to their reputation.
The sad part about it, there are times, when months or years later, it is found that the person was innocent and falsely accused.
With their reputation damaged, there is a struggle to try to fit back into society.
Finding it difficult to receive the respect and some of the friendships once had.
The anger and frustration begin to arise.
Making it even harder for any of us to not want to seek revenge.
But rather than putting all our time towards trying to get revenge, God wants us to forgive and to turn everything over to Him.
The Lord wants us to handle our situations the way Peter spoke to us in this passage.
He is instructing us to not repay evil with evil.
Not to let the negative opinions once given by others affect how we proceed in life.
Even the ones that continue to this day.
It is hard not to want those who hurt us to hurt just as much as we did.
But we are to bless them (v.9).
When we do, we extend forgiveness, and the hope of well-being to those that have wrongly accused us.
He wants us to do this so we can reap the blessings He has in store for us.
We all know that this is very difficult, but with the Lord on our side, it can be done.
We must also remember that no evil done against us is going unnoticed.
God, all-wise and ever present, watches over the righteous, and takes care of them.
That’s why He allowed Jesus to die on the cross.
Jesus bore the burden of our wrongs, that we might receive grace. Forgiving us of all our sins.
It was a struggle, but He did it.
Making it possible for us to extend the same to others.
The Scriptures even takes it a step further when
Paul tells us, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans12:19 KJV)
When we think about the blessings that we have received because of our obedience, we become a living testimony of how great the Lord is and all He has done for us.
A WORD OF PRAYER
Lord, it is hard to forgive those who have done us wrong. May we find the strength we need in the Word to extend mercies to them, just like You extend mercy and grace unto us all.
In Jesus Name We Pray, Amen