God’s desire to bless

1Pe 3:9  Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

This, to me, is one of the (seemingly) most difficult verses to obey in all of scripture.  It echoes Christ’s call to “love your enemies.”  (Mt. 5:44)

Most of the time, when I read verses like this one, and especially when I am in the middle of circumstances which allow me to apply this,  (ex: when I am being “reviled” or mistreated) I find my body recoiling from the thought of obeying it and I also find myself questioning whether or not that is really the best way to go.

What helps is in looking at this verse and asking “why.”  WHY would the Lord command me to do this?  The answer is right in the verse.  “THAT you may obtain a blessing.”  So…what is God’s heart for me in the middle of having to obey Him when it seems tough?  He wants to bless me.

This is true in all of God’s commandments.  If we keep reading in 1Peter, he quotes Psalm 34 and says, “Whoever desires to love life and see good days…”

I desire to LOVE LIFE!  I desire to see GOOD days!  So, what do I need to do?  Walk in the path the Lord lays out for me.

God really is GOOD.  And His path is always the best one.  (for everyone involved)