Finally, be you all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not repaying evil for evil, or insult for insult: giving instead blessing; knowing that you are called, that you should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him refrain from evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
1 Peter 3:8-12

The subject of this text is evil, and avoiding it, but notice what it concentrates on... our verbal communication. It’s a natural state, of this sinful flesh, to want to throw an insult back at those who insult us. We’re offended, hurt, and angered and our natural reaction is to repay. In some twisted way it seem to make us feel better, but it’s only our flesh that is satisfied: as it’s the flesh we are feeding when we do such things.

Christ came to make a peculiar people, one who will do the opposite of what seems natural to this body. Satan wants us to feel as if we are defeated, if we back down, if we do not return for that done to us. Yet, instead, if the Spirit is in us, we feel defeated afterwards; knowing we should not have reacted in the manner in which we did. We should then defeat the adversary before we allow him to defeat us.

Tags: Christian Walk