1 Peter 3.8-17
"Finally, all of you should agree and have concern and love for each other. You should also be kind and humble. Don't be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God's chosen ones, and he will bless you. The Scriptures say, "Do you really love life? Do you want to be happy? Then stop saying cruel things and quit telling lies. Give up your evil ways and do right, as you find and follow the road that leads to peace. The Lord watches over everyone who obeys him, and he listens to their prayers. But he opposes everyone who does evil."
Can anyone really harm you for being eager to do good deeds? Even if you have to suffer for doing good things, God will bless you. So stop being afraid and don't worry about what people might do. Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life.
Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope. Give a kind and respectful answer and keep your conscience clear. This way you will make people ashamed for saying bad things about your good conduct as a follower of Christ. You are better off to obey God and suffer for doing right than to suffer for doing wrong."
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Being a Christian is about living our lives in a particular way. The author of first Peter admonishes us to be kind to everyone and humble. The way of the world seems to be to say cruel things to others and to tell lies, to be hateful and insulting. But, that's not the road that leads to peace and happiness.
Hatefulness, cruelty, insults and lies only seem to beget more of the same. If I say something nasty about you, you will probably be inclined to give it right back to me. But, if one of us breaks the cycle of ugliness, and does something kind for the other, the war will probably stop. Not necessarily, but probably. Kindness and love really is the road to happiness and peace. Even if the other person continues their campaign of hate, and I look for kind things to do and say, the condition of my soul, and my existence, has got to be happier and more peaceful. You see, I am no longer carrying enmity or a grudge around. Enmity is a heavy burden. Hate drains life out of the hater, much more so than the one they hate. Because the hated one is often oblivious to the fact. But, if you are carrying a hatred for someone, you are never oblivious to it. You are always on your guard. You are always alert. It never gives you rest. And if you think you've set it aside, it can sneak up on you and ambush you!
On the other hand, if you sow kindness wherever you go, and with everyone you meet, the burden you carry is light. You see, you are always giving something away. A smile, a kind word, a helping hand, a vote of confidence, a tangible gift. In doing so you are continually lightening your load. In addition, the recipients of your kindness generally feel warm and friendly towards you. They regard you in a positive light. Now, you don't sow kindness to get that sort of thing back. If you do it to get something in return, well, it does no good for your soul. You'll be keeping accounts, and storing resentments, and waiting for repayment. And you're back to carrying burdens again.
No! Sow kindness freely and gladly, rejoicing as you do that you can make a positive difference for somebody. Doing good is it's own reward. Enjoy the smile you create, the look of relief, whatever sign you can see that your kindness hit its target and made life better even just for a moment. And enjoy the lightness of possessing an unburdened heart.
Gracious Saviour, thank you for providing us with a way of life to follow as your people. It's the way of love ... the way of kindness ... the Way of Christ. Amen.
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