1 Peter 3:10-13 For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
The world tries to convince us every day that in order to enjoy a good life we must pursue riches, status, and the things that stroke our pride and ego. I am not saying that we neglect providing for our family. As a matter of fact God tells us that if we do not provide for them, we are worse than an infidel (1 Timothy 5:8). What I am saying is that if we want to love the life God has given us, and we want to see good days, then we must live those days by God's standards. The first thing we must realize and acknowledge is that none of us is promised a life without challenges; and if we are truly living for Jesus, we should expect persecution. However, in the midst of persecution, because we have Jesus, we can still love life and see good days. Rather than be tempted to respond with evil words that spark conflict and bring about arguments and instigate trouble, on top of the trouble we are already experiencing, we need to speak words that bring about peace and harmony. Romans 12:18 tells us that if it is possible, as much as depends on us, we are to live at peace with others. We are to do this regardless of what their attitude is toward us; especially if they are choosing to be in conflict with us because of our faith. We are to refuse to engage in worldly behavior that is evil and creates further complications; the kind of behavior that stokes the fires of conflict. God promises that if we are obedient to His commands to refuse to speak evil, and do all we can to pursue peace, His eyes will be upon us and His ears will be open to our prayers, especially in the midst of trying times. Sadly, we often focus on the fact that evildoers seem to get their way and are rewarded for their actions, almost immediately, while satisfaction and relief for the righteous seems to elude us, or be delayed so long that it feels as if it will never come. This makes the temptation to compromise and behave like the world much greater. Brothers and sisters, be encouraged and know that God always keeps His promises. Remember what Paul wrote in Galatians 6:7-9, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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