Week 38 of 52

“For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:” 1 Peter 3:10

I memorized this verse when I was just eleven or twelve – but going through 1 Peter 3, I have had to re-memorize it. There is not much to comment on this verse, because it is clear. James 3:2 reminds us, “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.”

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Have you memorized a verse recently? If not, why don’t you try memorizing 1 Peter 3:10?

 

Week 37 of 52

“Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:9)

This verse brings several others to my mind.

“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.” (Proverbs 25:21-22)

 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Matthew 5:43-44)

 “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.” (Luke 6:28-29)

 “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.” (Romans 12:14)

There are a few things that are not mentioned in this Biblical principle:

     ~To take into account our feelings (“The Bible says this, but I feel like . . .”)

     ~To do it only if we think the other person deserves it

     ~That we will be blessed for seeking revenge or “getting even”

God’s grace is sufficient to help us to forgive those who have wronged us.

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What Biblical truth have you learned this week? Do you have a verse to share?

Week 36 of 52

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:” 1 Peter 3:8

In context, this verse comes immediately after the husband and wife but is applicable for all believers. Are we the individual who is keeping our family or church from being in unity? Have we lapsed in compassion towards others? Have we failed to love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)? Have we failed to sympathetic and thoughtful?

Week 35 of 52

“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7

Finally! The last few weeks, my memory verses have been all about women and their commands. It finally gets to the husbands. However, instead of expounding on the husband’s role, I will still point to the women. Why? Because we are responsible for our actions and our attitudes – not our husband’s (or, our future husband’s). If we build the expectation that our future husband will always honor us, always care for us, and always dwell wisely with us, we are preparing for a fall. Just as we will not always be submissive (see 1 Peter 3:1, 5), our husbands will not always be the kind, caring, loving husband that he ought to be. Even if he is a very godly man. So how can we apply this verse? No, we cannot preach it to our husbands or quote it to him daily. Instead, we can pray for him – even now, if we are unmarried (“Lord, prepare my husband to have the knowledge of how he is to lead me.”).

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Has a special verse come to your mind today? How has it spoken to you?