Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters.  Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.  Don’t repay evil for evil.  Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9, NLT

Anytime I come across a passage that says something as clearly as “That is what God has called you to do” I stop and take notice.  The third chapter of 1 Peter has much to say about how I should live as a follower of Christ but these particular words have caught my attention this morning.  There is a lot packed into this particular to-do list but I am really focusing in on the part that says to not retaliate with insults. 

As I read what is being posted on social media these days I wonder how well we are doing with this.  When I am insulted is my first instinct to offer them a blessing instead of a returned insult?  I will be honest, it is often not even my third or fourth or fifth thought.  As I go through the gamut of ways to respond in my head, “blessing” is slow to appear.  Oh, to be rid of this sin nature that always puts me first.  Oh, to be rid of this desire to be found approved by men more than God.  I need God to make me fully into a woman who is tenderhearted and has a humble attitude.  I think those are the qualities necessary to return blessings instead of curses.  And it will certainly take a mighty moving of the Holy Spirit in my life to accomplish living in this world in such a way.

May grace, peace, and mercy abound,

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.  -Hebrews 4:12-13, NLT

As 2020 ends and we are about to ring in a new year I love how God is once again reminding me of the importance of His Word.  Unlike when I study my Bible, I often use the New Living Translation for my daily reading.  It puts things in a way that really catches my attention and in these verses it grabs me that I hide nothing from God.  As I read His Word it exposes my innermost thoughts and desires-the things I hide from the rest of the world but are completely exposed to God.

I prefer to start my day in God’s Word.  I realize we are all in different seasons of our lives.  I have sometimes used that as an excuse, but at this time in my life most of the distractions are gone.  Mind you, raising a family is an excellent “distraction” but can be really exhausting.  I remember well the mornings when I just wanted to close my eyes a little longer rather than get up ahead of my boys.  I confess to you that there were too many mornings when I gave in to that desire and I would find myself humbled by one of my dear sons who would pipe up, “Mom, did you spend time with God this morning?” This was not a question they ever asked on those days when I had indeed spent time in God’s word as I greeted the day. They are the ones who lived with the me who chose sleep over God and witnessed the impact that had on how I lived out that day.  Reading God’s Word is not something to check of my to-do list, it is vital to my daily life.  It has been my routine now for over 20 years…I no longer question how important it is to my walk with God.  I have lived it out for far too long to ever doubt. 

May grace, peace, and mercy abound,

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace,
along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 
And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach,
patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.
God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil,
after being captured by him to do his will.      
    
-2 Timothy 2:22-26, ESV

Paul wrote these words specifically to Timothy and yet they are certainly ones we should pay attention to as well.  I mentioned yesterday that I am quickly approaching my 60th year so you would think I have stopped pursuing those youthful passions, but while my body is aging my mind still thinks and acts like a child far too often.  I was a lot more quarrelsome in my youth, I was quite impatient at times-which is strange to say as I have always been told how patient I am.  When we see what is going on in the world today we can get very impatient.  We want all of this stuff with Covid to be over.  And I won’t even go into our current political situation.  I recognize in my own life how it is a challenge for me to ignore ignorant controversies, to patiently endure evil, to not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone.  It is very important to realize the impact our words and actions, our very demeanor, has on those whose paths we cross.  As servants of the living God what we do will affect how they think about God.  I would much rather God is able to use my life to “capture” others to do His will. 
Another passage from today’s reading fits in very well here:

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,
equipped for every good work. 

-2 Timothy 3:14-17, ESV

I too have been taught and believed since childhood.  I was given my first Bible by my grandmother as soon as I was able to read it and was encouraged to make it a part of my daily life.  By it I am equipped by God for every good work as His word has corrected me when I was wrong and shown me what is right.  And so, I desire to be a good servant and obediently pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.  Not just as I am out in the world, but also in my own home.  How often does my beloved husband bear the brunt of my childishness.  I pulled the photo of the woman loading the dishwasher as a reminder that even in those household tasks I am serving the Lord.  They may seem mundane, but even they are an act of obedience as I do the work God has assigned to me.  I rarely think about loading the dishwasher as an act of love and peace, and yet it can be an issue of strife in our home if I let it.  It too is a part of the good works God has equipped me for.  Does it help to see our housework in that light?  I need to be faithful in what is before me as well as those greater things God gives me to do.  I pray I go into this day with this attitude of serving, serving God, serving my husband, serving whomever God brings into my path today. Laying aside myself and my youthful passions, and serving others with gentleness and kindness and patience.

May grace, peace, and mercy abound,