"Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing." 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NLT) In this current society, Pete's wise and instructive words could be so easily overlooked or just plain discarded hastily in the pursuit of so many available arguments, irritations and outright offenses. But as Jesus followers, if our mission and goal is follow Jesus - trying to speak and do as He would do, ... well, we have our work cut out for us - because He left some pretty clear footprints. These days watching the news or sampling social media has become an exercise of enduring divisive assault along with a sideshow of people clamoring for attention. To a good heart it's become a tiring work
A much loved spiritual mentor pointed out to me the difference between the Apostle Paul's past will (a life without Christ) and His new will that evolved after the Lord called Him. He then challenged me to define what my own new will would say... ...let my response be found here...
"It is not the title that people give to themselves that defines who they are; it is the fruit of what they produce." Graham Cooke