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. (1 Pet. 3:9)

We have a tendency to treat others the way they treat us. If they are nice to us, then we are nice to them.  And if they are mean to us, then we either ignore them or find a way to “give as good as we got!”

But this tit-for-tat way of approaching relationships blinds us to gospel realities. Relating to people solely on the basis of what they’ve done is not God’s way. Scripture says our brothers and sisters in Christ are members of his family – indwelt by his Spirit and precious to him despite their flaws.

Jesus intends for us to relate to other believers on the basis of our eternal relationship with him and the identity he shares with them.

There may be difficult things for us to work through, but Christians are called to approach one another on the basis of our mutual identity in Christ. So, we treat one another with the respect and love Christ provides, not simply on the basis of temporal tensions our fallen world produces.

You sense and share gospel realities by looking past the inflamed eyes of those whose criticism or rage intends your harm to see Jesus indwelling them and calling you to love them beyond their sin – and yours!

Prayer: Lord, may I treat others the way you treat me, not repaying evil for evil but rather showing them the grace and love that I have received because of Christ in me.