Scripture

1 Peter 2:21 (New Living Translation)

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

Consider

To do good to someone who has abused and insulted you is nothing short of a holy task.

Kindness does not come naturally to us when we’ve been injured by another’s cruelty or carelessness. Our earthly nature instinctively turns us defensive and even vengeful. Injured pride and insecurity can drive us deep into survival mode, arming us for a fight and armoring us against such “soft” feelings as kindness or forgiveness.

We are fortunate that such “soft” qualities do, in fact, come naturally to our heavenly Father. Ironically, the very qualities that the world sees as weak, our holy God deems essential gear for living in a world racked with suffering and sin. Moreover, he sends us his Spirit to help us live righteous lives because he knows we could never achieve such goodness on our own.

We who follow Christ stand out because we do the unnatural in our relationships—we do good when the world expects evil. The Holy Spirit fills a willing heart with both the desire and the means to cultivate those soft qualities—the fruit of God’s Spirit—so that we can do good to those who hurt us.

Pray

FATHER, you know my wounds, and you know how much they hurt. I don’t have it in me to always love and forgive the ones who mistreat me. All I can do, Father, is offer you my wounds and my desire to be close to you. Give me your heart, Lord. By your Spirit plant a seed in me that will grow the fruit I need to do good in your holy Name.

Reflect

Psalm 34:12-14; Galatians 5:22-23

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Why is doing good to those who mistreat us so difficult?