Saturday Night Devotions

 

 

I Peter 3:9

     Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

     We are plainly called to be a blessing to others – and not only those who bless us, but bless even those who cause us pain.  Luke 6:28 says, “Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”  We are first called to bless those who curse us because that is the example Jesus gave us.  This same line “not returning reviling for reviling” was used to describe Jesus in I Peter 2:23.  As if that were not enough (and certainly it should be), the verse adds further impetus to blessing those around us by stating that we should bless others “that you may inherit a blessing.”  Let us first of all be diligent in being a blessing to those in our church.  Then let us seek to bless those who intentionally bring us distress, as in this verse, because doing so allows us to “inherit a blessing.”  If we did not realize it before now, let us take note that God blesses those who bless others.  Sometimes that blessing comes in heaven, sometimes His blessing comes to us right away.  “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered (Proverbs 11:25, ESV).”