Be blessed to be a blessing

05
Sep

1 peter 3:9—”Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”

While studying 1 Peter you will realize that Peter was talking to us-specifically: Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia- so we can look at this as a personal session.
What did Peter say in the scripture above?
Peter warns you, as children of God, not to return insults or evil deeds to anyone. Instead, learn to return blessings and prayers for their evil deeds (praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them) . In nature, be agreeable (united in spirit), sympathetic, compassionate, humble and loving to one another as of one household; no retaliation, no sharp-tongued sarcasm, say nothing evil or hurtful. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. God called you out to be part of His family. Bless—that’s your job, to bless. By doing this, you will be a blessing and in turn will inherit blessings.

Womenfolk, wives, be good wives to your husbands and responsive to their needs. You must submit yourselves to your own husbands (i.e. subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to them). Do this especially to those who are unbelievers or indifferent to the Word of God, such that they may be won over by your behavior (your life of holy beauty) than your words. They must see the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves and your reverence to them that includes: to respect, to defer to, honor, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, i.e., to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband. The purity and reverence of your lives should reflect your beauty (the inner disposition, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight) than from your outward elaborate hairstyles, gold jewelry, fine clothes, etc. You ought to cultivate an inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.
Menfolk, husbands, you are asked to be considerate and good husbands while you live with your wife. Honor her, delight in her. You must treat her: with respect as the physically weaker partner because as a woman she lacks some of your advantages. However, she is also a joint heir of the grace of life given by God, you are equals. With this behaviour you can ensure that God will hear your prayers and therefore make your prayers effective.

Listen all, stay away from the following things on which God turns His back:
– evil things and evil doers
– tongue that speaks evil
– lips that are filled with deceitful speech
We must do the following things for God’s approval:
+ cultivate and do good
+ seek and pursue peace
The Lord’s eyes follow the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayers. By doing the required things above, we will be blessed and, can in the same measure, be a blessing to all others!!