August 26th - Reflection

1 Peter 3:8-12 (NRSV)
Repay abuse with a blessing

Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called - that you might inherit a blessing. For
"Those who desire life
and desire to see good days,
let them keep their tongues from evil
and their lips from speaking deceit;
let them turn away from evil and do good;
let them seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

Reflection
This is a hard passage to be consistent with. Sure, I can do this from time to time but to be able to do it all the time is the difficult task. For me it's important to come back to this passage and others like it to remind myself and drive home the reasons for these actions.

The reason doesn't include the motivation to inherit a blessing. Inheriting the blessing is a result of a changed life that come about with the realization that, being free from the worry of eternal damnation for my sin, I can respond in love toward God and in love towards my neighbor with actions that appeal to God.

We want to make God happy now that we realize and believe in what has happened. It's a reactive action that takes place when we see the full impact of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. It's a reactive action that takes place when we realize how much God loves each one of us. It's a reactive action that takes place that we rush to emulate Christ's life in our relationships with others.

So I look to these passages for guidance on the actions I want to take. I look to these packages as ways to know what pleases God and find all along that what pleases God is love towards God and actions of love towards others. Thanks be to God for such guidance and teaching through the Word alive and active.

Prayer
Lord, may my actions bring you glory and bring others love, the love you first gave through life. --- Amen