1 Peter 3:8-17 - Bless

Occasionally, on a heavy errand day, my attention is drawn to the stark contrast [that should exist] between those living according to this world of greed and those living according to the Word of God. So how do you behave in traffic? Not just in traffic of course… I notice all around me [and on a bad day or in the wrong moment, it’s me] folks who would appear to decided straight away, any given morning, that today will be a bad day and everyone’s against them. Like they’ve taken one of those lists of affirmations to say to yourself in the mirror and spoken the polar opposite every morning for the past few years:  

• Today is going to be a terrible day.  
• It will be filled with sorrow and misery. 
• I’ll do my part to ensure that everyone around me is as miserable as I am. 
• I believe all of my fears and doubts about mankind will be confirmed today. 
• I will attack every moment with unmerited anger and bouts of rage. 

I can’t help but consider the effects this sort of disposition must have on ones physical health, relationships, career success, self-esteem and so forth. It’s self destructive, socially toxic and viral at that. One person with this harmful condition can infect a whole staff, ball team, waiting room, family unit or even a church. Before you know it, we’re all in the shadow of this dark nasty cloud spreading it’s gloom just the same. And so the contrast… 1 Peter 3:8-17 urges us to do just the opposite, in-fact verse 9 states simply that we have been called to bless. It’s written as a command, meaning we are to bless, but there is no direct object. It’s left open ended. So the guy that cut me off in traffic? The family with loud kids in the theater? The less than efficient wait staff? My scheming co-worker? My overly haughty friend? All of them, and I think even more than that, this appears to zoom out of focus and address a general disposition, that is to bless. We are to wake up every day and prepare to bless. If we need to give ourselves a pep talk in the morning, a spiritual shot in arm mid day or a swift kick in the tail in the late afternoon drive home, I think this calls for a whatever-it-takes mentality. We must be set and ready to bless no matter what, viewing every circumstance as an opportunity. And there will be a vast array of “opportunities.” This verse goes on to say it’s a win win. When we bless, we will “obtain a blessing.” It’s blatantly obvious that the opposite effect is produced when we choose anger, resentment, revenge or rage. So blessing for blessing… I’ll choose that, and it is choice.  So choose to bless.

I can’t help but consider the effects this sort of disposition might have on ones physical health, relationships, career success, self-esteem and so forth. It’s self constructive, socially invigorating and viral at that. One person with this edifying condition can uplift a whole staff, ball team, waiting room, family unit or even a church. Before you know it, we’re all in the glorious light of His love, joy and peace and spreading it everywhere we go. All it takes is a little patience, kindness, gentleness, and self control.