Payback

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 3:9 (TNIV) [emphasis mine]

I read this verse today, and it really spoke to me. I cannot tell you how many times someone I know at work or outside of work has said an insult, joking or not, and I have come back at them with an insult, joking or not, of equal or greater value. This can be so damaging, and even worse, it can be so deceiving.

How many times do we crack jokes to each other, when, if we were truly honest with ourselves and each other, part of us really doesn’t mean it as a joke. If we were able to be completely honest with each other with it causing any damage I think we all would say that deep down,

we say what we mean, but we disguise it behind a “joke” so that we can say it and still remain friends.

This is not good. This is deceiving.

This verse really spoke to me, and hit me at my core today. My soul is sick. And God is trying to heal it.

We should be the standard. The example. The encouragement. We have the answer. The fix.

So let us no longer repay insult with insult, joke with joke, but let us shock the world (and ourselves) but repaying everything with love, encouragement and blessing

Your thoughts?

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