A Lenten Journey: The Wilderness Trail — Day Seven

1 Peter 3:8-18a, The Living Bible

And now this word to all of you: You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t snap back at those who say unkind things about you. Instead, pray for God’s help for them, for we are to be kind to others, and God will bless us for it.

If you want a happy, good life, keep control of your tongue, and guard your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Try to live in peace even if you must run after it to catch and hold it! For the Lord is watching his children, listening to their prayers; but the Lord’s face is hard against those who do evil.

Usually no one will hurt you for wanting to do good. But even if they should, you are to be envied, for God will reward you for it. Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord, and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way.

Do what is right; then if men speak against you, calling you evil names, they will become ashamed of themselves for falsely accusing you when you have only done what is good. Remember, if God wants you to suffer, it is better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong!

Christ also suffered. He died once for the sins of all us guilty sinners although he himself was innocent of any sin at any time, that he might bring us safely home to God. But though his body died, his spirit lived on . . .

‘One big happy family,’ eh?
Do I even know one of those?
Well, yes, at times.
Still, families are notoriously
dysfunctional.

But this?
‘Quietly trust yourself’
to Christ your Lord?’

Yeah, that’s the ticket.
Only that one’s 
about as rare as 
a functional family,
I fear.

And yet, 
I do believe,
that is the way 
forward,
through,
toward.

Help me to learn these things:
quietness,
trust,
gentleness,
respectfulness.

And give me courage
to listen for the questions,
and then answer well.

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