“But let it never be forgotten, that tenderness of spirit is absolutely inseparable from a spiritual frame. When our blessed Lord prayed, it was “with strong crying and tears?i?:” and when Jacob wrestled, “he wept, and made supplication.” This then is the state of mind which we must aspire after. Our fervour must be a humble fervour; and our confidence, a humble confidence. And whilst we look to God to accomplish all things for us, we must at the same time use all proper means for the attainment of them.”

Charles Simeon on Genesis 32:26 (1832-63)

Christianity

Christianity,

Repay Evil with Blessings

” Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9, NIV)

So often we repay evil with evil and insults with insults. I can remember getting into arguments with family and friends and it would often turn into a volley of insults. In the heat of anger, it seems like the natural thing to do, but if there is anything that I’ve learned from the Bible, the natural thing is not always the best thing for us. Imagine how our arguments would take a turn for the better if we could stop our tongue from spitting our insults and start speaking blessings to the people we love. Perhaps we could calm down the anger and speak rationally. Perhaps we can let our loved ones speak out their frustrations and hurts and just listen. Perhaps instead of saying something that hurts, we can say something that heals. That would be a blessing.

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