To Bless

1 Peter 3:8-18 says, "Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here’s what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he’s asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things. If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God."

My prayer for you today is that we can be people who embrace the good in others, who forgive quickly and aren't ones who go around speaking badly of others. Lets be people who fix others crowns without pointing it out to the world. We all make mistakes - that is part of life. Aren't you glad we serve a God who has shown us much mercy and grace. He is the ultimate example of how we should be with others in our world around us.

Prayer:

Dear God,

I pray that you'll show me the people and areas of my life where I need to show grace and mercy, help me to forgive others and speak only of their good. Help me to be loving and compassionate to those around me, to run after all that's good in your sight. Thank you for your forgiveness and grace you've given me. Amen.