Try to Understand Each Other...

Today's journal prompt is: What is an inspirational quote you've read this week and what does it mean to you? 

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While reading 1 Peter this week, two verses felt like they stabbed me in the chest- I felt an overwhelming amount of conviction and as I studied them, I felt it even more. 

1 Peter 3:8 - "So all of you should live together in peace. Try to understand each other. Love each other like brothers and sisters. Be kind and humble." 

1 Peter 3:9- "Don’t do wrong to anyone to pay them back for doing wrong to you. Or don’t insult anyone to pay them back for insulting you. But ask God to bless them. Do this because you yourselves were chosen to receive a blessing." (ERV)

Live Together in Peace.

Peace, according to the dictionary, is described as, "a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, especially in personal relations, an agreement to end hostilities and abstain from further fighting or antagonism:"

Paul wrote that we are called to be at peace with each other meaning we are called to be in harmony with one another- we are called to agree to end hostilities and abstain from further fighting. 

Now, I don't believe Paul is asking us to be doormats here. I also don't believe he is asking us to be every single person's best friend. What he is asking for is that we push differences aside and plead the blood over bitterness. He is asking that we avoid those we cannot get along with- but hold no grudges. God is calling us to be friendly and civil. We can be cautious of other's motives without harboring anger, bitterness, and revenge in our hearts.

Try to understand each other.

I'll be honest- this one hit me like a ton of bricks.

OUCH.

How many times have we judged another's actions without truly understanding what is taking place in their lives?

I don't think Paul is saying everyone gets a 'free pass' to treat people how they want to but what I believe is-- trying to see life from both sides of the situation will be a blessing for us. If we can understand that this person might be having a bad day- they may be in an abusive relationship, their father may be in bad health with days to live, they may have been abandoned at a young age and still toil with the effects, they may be going through a miscarriage right now, they may be fighting internal demons we know nothing about----

Try to understand each other.

Try to see life from the other side.
Try to realize that our way isn't always the 'only way.'
Try to accept that we all have our own battles and those battles cause us to act in different ways sometimes.
Try to understand that this person may be a great person-- they're just going through a hard time right now.

Love each other like family.

Family holds a different kind of love.

You can get into arguments with your brother or sister and go back to loving them the next day. That's just how those kind of relationships work.

God is asking us to love others in this manner too.

Doesn't it seem easier to forgive your sibling than it does to forgive an acquaintance sometimes?

But God wants us to love and forgive everyone in this manner. 

Love them because God loves them. That's it-- He isn't asking us to judge the situation. He doesn't want us loving others based on how they treat us. He isn't asking us to contemplate whether they're deserving. He is just asking us to love them.

Be kind and humble.

Humble means, "not proud or arrogant; modest; courteously respectful." 

Kind means, "considerate or helpful; humane; mild; gentle."

God is asking us to push our pride aside and be respectful- gentle- considerate.

All of the elements in this verse tie together to reveal one thing: God wants us to shift our perspective.

We aren't going to get along with everyone. That's just how it is. I read a quote once that said:

"There are some people who always seem angry and continuously look for conflict. Walk away. The battle they are fighting isn't with you, it is with themselves."

There are going to be some people in this world that just don't want to get along with others-- and that's their burden to carry. God is asking that we don't harbor bitterness- regardless of how the other person treats us. If we can't be around them, that's fine. He isn't asking us to force friendships or to be someone's punching bag in life. But He is asking that we be understanding of their internal struggle and not harbor anger.

We have to shift our perspective to understand that some people are hurting, have been hurt-- they act in a way that they probably don't understand half the time. We don't have to be their best friend, but we can pray for them. We can pray for their situation. We can pray that God blesses their hearts, their minds, their circumstances. 

Let Go of the Revenge Mentality.

I read a quote once that stated, "Before you embark as a journey of revenge, dig two graves." 

Revenge not only hurts the other person- it equally hurts your spirit. It lessens you. It steals from the person you are and can be.

Have you ever sought revenge against someone? Doesn't even have to be an elaborate plan.. just something that 'gets back at them' in some shape or form? Although it might feel good in the moment, chances are... guilt begins to creep up and lets be honest- guilt is no weight want to be carrying around. Someone once stated, "Guilt and health cannot coexist." That nauseous feeling. That pain inside. That burden. It will gradually make us physically ill. 

We have to let that mentality go.

Not just for the person we are seeking revenge against, but for our own souls. 

Ask God to Bless Them.

Luke 6:27-28 says, "If you’re listening, here’s My message: Keep loving your enemies no matter what they do. Keep doing good to those who hate you. Keep speaking blessings on those who curse you. Keep praying for those who mistreat you." (The Voice)

Why?

Because Luke 6:33-38 says, " So what if you do good to those who do good to you? Even scoundrels do that much! So what if you lend to people who are likely to repay you? Even scoundrels lend to scoundrels if they think they’ll be fully repaid. If you want to be extraordinary—love your enemies! Do good without restraint! Lend with abandon! Don’t expect anything in return! Then you’ll receive the truly great reward—you will be children of the Most High—for God is kind to the ungrateful and those who are wicked. So imitate God and be truly compassionate, the way your Father is. If you don’t want to be judged, don’t judge. If you don’t want to be condemned, don’t condemn. If you want to be forgiven, forgive. Don’t hold back—give freely, and you’ll have plenty poured back into your lap—a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, brimming over. You’ll receive in the same measure you give." (The Voice)

There's nothing extraordinary about doing good to the people who are good to you.

There's nothing extraordinary about giving to those that will 100% give back to you.

What is extraordinary-

loving your enemies.
loving those that hurt you.
doing good without the possibility of that person returning the goodness.
lending without the possibility of that person returning the favor.
not expecting anything in return.

This is where we will receive the reward.

Being kind to the ungrateful.
Being kind to the wicked.
Being compassionate.
Not judging others.
Not condemning others.
Forgiving others.

We will receive the measure we GIVE.

That's something to think about.


These verses jumped out at me-- and filled me with guilt. I needed that guilt for a minute. I needed it to stir my heart a little bit. I needed it to make me realize the error of my ways. I needed it for a sincere, honest, broken prayer.

And then I needed to repent for that guilt, repent for the person I've been, and ask God to help me fix things. Help me fix my heart. Help me to fix my attitude. Help me to fix my mind. Help me to quit judging others. Help me to quit holding grudges. Help me to stop seeking revenge, even if it is small. Help me from being argumentative and hard to get along with...

I had to ask Him to help me.