Glory to God! Praise God that the Lord God has been good to us all throughout the past week and He blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus, as Apostle Paul wrote in his Epistle to the church at Ephesus: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Paul praised God for His blessings upon the church and everyone who calls upon His name. God blessed the church so that the church could be a blessing to the world. Similarly, God blesses us, so that we can be a blessing to every one else. There are specific reasons for God to call and separate certain people for Himself. For instance, when God called and separated Abraham out of his country, his people and his father’s household and commanded him to go to a  distant land that God will show him (Genesis 12:1), it was to bless him and to make his life a blessing to others (Genesis 12:2). God made it very clear to Abraham when He called him out of everyone and everything he had been familiar with that He will bless him and make his name even greater. In fact, God did not limit His blessing just for Abraham or to his household (descendants) but God promised to bless all the people on earth through him. Some of the blessings God promised to Abraham when he was called to follow God’s commands are mentioned below based on Genesis 12:2-3 …

1. 1. 1. God will make him a great nation (12:2a)
      2. God will bless him (12:2b)
      3. God will make his name great (12:2c)
      4. God will make him a blessing to others (12:2d)
      5. God will bless those who bless him (12:3a)
      6. God will oppose anyone who oppose him (12:3b)
      7. God will bless all the people on earth through him (12:3c)

We can understand from the Scripture that God was faithful to fulfill all that He promised to Abraham and God blessed him immensely (Genesis 13:2; 24:1, 35). God not only blessed him and his immediate family (Sarah [Genesis 17:19], Isaac [Genesis 26:4-5], and Ishmael [Genesis 17:20; 25:12-18]) but He also blessed his descendants through his promised son Isaac and through them all the people of the earth:

1. 1. 1. God made him into a great nation [the nation of Israel] (Genesis 12:2; 17:2; 35:11; 46:3; Deuteronomy 26:5)
      2. God blessed Abraham and his household (Genesis 12:2; 13:2; 17:2; 22:17; 24:1)
      3. God blessed his descendants [the Israelites] (Genesis 22:18; 26:4; 28:14; Hebrews 6:14)
      4. God made his name great [he is the father of all believers {Romans 4:16}] (Genesis 18:18; Matthew 1:1; Galatians 3:7-9)
      5. God made him a blessing to everyone who blessed him [or welcomed him] (Genesis 12:3; 18:18; Acts 3:5)
      6. God opposed everyone who opposed Abraham (Genesis 14:14-17; 20:3-7)
      7. God blessed all the people on earth through his descendants, particularly through Jesus (Genesis 22:18; 26:4; Matthew 1:1; John 3:16; Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:16)

As we have seen, the Lord God chose Abraham and blessed him and blessed all the people on earth through him. God blessed Abraham more than he could ask or imagine. In the similar way, as the spiritual descendants of Abraham in this New Testament era (Galatians 3:6-7), we are also chosen by God to be a blessing to the people of this world, starting with people those who are around us. According to Apostle Paul, the Lord God blessed us more than we ask or imagine, as Paul stated: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever, Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21). Remember, God chose us and blessed us (that is, you and me) and now we need to be a blessing to everyone else near or far, which means:

1. 1. 1. we are called to be a blessing to our immediate family
      2. we are called to be a blessing to our extended family
      3. we are called to be a blessing to our dear brothers and sisters in the Lord
      4. we are called to be a blessing to our neighbors and friends
      5. we are called to be a blessing to anyone near or far
      6. we are called to be a blessing to people who are strangers to us, and
      7. we are called to be a blessing even to our enemies (if any) 

If we think that we are the spiritual descendants of Abraham; if we believe that God has called us to be the recipients of His blessings in our lives; if we consider that God has chosen us to make our life a blessing to others, then we need to know the fact that our carnal mind with worldly thinking will only be happy to receive from God any amount of blessings for ourselves but it will be unhappy to share those blessings with others even if they are in desperate need. If that is the case, we need to change the status of our deceitful mind and renew our mind and make ourselves new in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). In order to do so, we need to know Christ very personally and abide in Him and make Him the focal point of our life (John 15:4). This means, we need to make Christ the ‘Subject’ part of our life and make ourselves as the object part of our life, as it is in the case of a well-written or well-spoken sentence (in most cases, we use a subject [the doer] and an object [the receiver] in a sentence {in some cases, a sentence can be made without the presence of an ‘object’ in it but it is impossible to make a meaningful sentence without having a ‘Subject’ in it}). If Christ is the Subject in the God-written account of our lives, you and I are the objects in the God-written account of our lives. If so, without any doubt, God will bless us to meet all our needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). So, if we believe that we are blessed by God and we are asked to share part of our blessings with those in need, then we need to have the mindset and attitude of Jesus Christ in us. In order to inherit the mindset and attitude of Christ in us, we need to renew our mind and make ourselves new in Christ Jesus, as we discussed earlier. If we speak about it from Apostle Paul’s perspective, we need to put off our old self (where we ourselves are the subjects) and put on the new self (where Christ is the Subject in our life) in order to be made new in Christ Jesus, which will allow us to share the blessings we receive from God with others who are in need. The following instruction is given by Apostle Paul to the believers in Ephesus, which is applicable to us also:

When you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:21-24).

In addition, we need to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, as Apostle Paul described it to the believers in Philippi:

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8).

We will be able to understand the purpose of God in our lives and the promise of Christ for us and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in this world more clearly as we read, study, and meditate the Word of God on a day-to-day basis. We need to understand the teachings of the Holy Scriptures that we are created by God and everything we need for our survival on earth is given by God (Genesis 1:26-29). However, God does not bless us just enough to meet our needs rather He blesses us lavishly according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus, as Apostle Paul stated: God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). The promise of God’s provision for us indicates that we are provided with the things that are necessary for our survival on earth. In fact, when God provides for us, it would be more than what we need or require for our survival. The biblical principle of sharing our blessings with those in need is applicable to us because all that we think that we own in this world (that is, our positions and possessions) is not something that we either brought with us when we came into this world or that we take with us when we depart from this world (1 Timothy 6:7; also refer to: Job 1:21; Psalm 49:17; Ecclesiastes 5:15). Since we are the receivers of God’s blessings, we need to share with others who are in need that which is extra or unused. In order for us to do so … 

1. 1. 1. we need to love one another in the same way Christ loved us (John 13:34; Ephesians 5:2; 1 John 4:11);
      2. we need to be like-minded the way God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit were like-minded in everything the Godhead planned and did in this universe (Genesis 1:26a; Matthew 3:16-17; John 10:30);
      3. we need to be sympathetic like Christ is sympathetic (Hebrew 4:15); (iv) we need to be compassionate like Christ is compassionate (Matthew 9:36; 14:14; Mark 6:34);
      4. we need to be humble like Christ humbled Himself before God the Father; and so on (Philippians 2:5-8; also ref: 1 Peter 3:8).

First of all, (i) let us read, study, analyze, and know the passage we have chosen for our meditation; and then, (ii) let us pray and meditate to understand the passage and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal us the spiritual factors that we need to know from this passage; following that (iii) let us apply those spiritual factors in our own life and teach them to others, so that everyone who is involved in the plan of God will be thinking, talking, and acting on the same things God reveal to us. When we all act in one accord (that is, as per the revelation of God to us) and bring glory and honor to God and God alone, the purpose of God will be fulfilled in and through our life. Apostle Peter is urging every Christian believer everywhere, including you and me, to follow the biblical principles in their own life for a Spirit-filled and fruitful life on earth. This is what he speaks 1 Peter 3:8-12,

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil (1 Peter 3:8-12).

Originally, part of the above mentioned Scripture passage, particularly, verses 10-12 of 1 Peter 3:8-12, is a quote that was taken from Psalm 34:12-16, which God spoke through king David about a thousand years prior to the incarnation of Christ as a human being. Apostle Peter quoted the revelation that king David received a thousand years ago to encourage and teach all the followers Jesus Christ the practical guidelines for a blessed life in God, which states:

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth (Psalm 34:12-16)

Apostle Peter quoted this particular passage for our spiritual benefit and to teach us the way of God that will help us to love life and see good days in life. From this we can understand that it doesn’t really matter whether people lived in the past (during the Old Testament time) or we are living in the present or future age (during the New Testament time), we are all commanded to live our lives according to the righteous laws and decrees that were given to us by God, especially those who would want to love their lives and see good days ahead or to attain a good ending of our spiritual journey [just like Apostle Paul testified about his own life experience at the end of his life: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Timothy 4:7-8)]. As the faithful followers of Christ, we are chosen and commanded:

1. 1. 1. to love the Lord God Almighty with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:5; 10:12; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27a);
      2. to love our neighbor as ourselves [whether or not he/she is a believer or one’s enemy (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27b);
      3. to obey all His righteous laws and decrees that are given to us (Deuteronomy 10:12; 11:1; 26:17; Micah 6:8);
      4. to live in unity with the triune God [that include: the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit] (John 17:20-23) and with everyone else near or far (1 Corinthians 1:10-11).

Let us analyze and study the Scripture passage we chose for our meditation, which is 1 Peter 3:8-12, and see what we can learn to benefit our righteous living:

• • We are called to be like-minded (3:8a)
  • We are called to be sympathetic (3:8b)
  • We are called to love one another (3:8c)
  • We are to be compassionate (3:8d)
  • We are called to be humble (3:8e)
  • We are commanded not to repay evil with evil (3:9a)
  • We are commanded not to repay insult with insult (3:9b)
  • We are commanded to repay evil with blessing (3:9c)
  • We are called to inherit a blessing (3:9d)
  • We are called to love our life and to love others (3:10a)
  • We are called to do good to everyone around us and see good days in our lives (3:10b)
  • We are called to keep our tongue from evil (3:10c)
  • We are called to keep our lips from deceitful speech (3:10d)
  • We are called to turn from evil (3:11a)
  • We are called to do good (3:11b)
  • We are called to seek peace and pursue it (3:11c)
  • We ought to know the fact that the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous (3:12a)
  • We ought to know the fact that the ears of the Lord are attentive to our prayer (3:12b)
  • We ought to know the fact that the face of the Lord is against those who do evil (3:12c)

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, thank the Lord God that we are counted among the children of God. A child of God (a faithful follower of Jesus Christ or a committed disciple of the risen Lord) is a person who is saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, as Apostle Paul stated: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is commonly believed that a person is saved when he/she comes to know Jesus Christ personally through hearing His gospel (either through the testimony of someone who faithfully follows Jesus Christ, or through reading the Scripture/Bible or any other literature about Jesus, or through revelation by Christ Himself) and surrender their life before Him and accept Him as the Lord and Savior of their life by placing their trust/faith in Him. Their sins will be forgiven and they will be sanctified and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul wrote:

When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir (Galatians 4:4-7)

Paul continued saying:

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding (Ephesians 1:4-8)

As the chosen people of God in our generation, we are God’s special possession and a royal priesthood and a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9a); and we are commanded to declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9b). Praise God that you and I are in the eternal plan of God who made the light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). God who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light wanted to bless this world through you and me. If we are ready for it, let us rededicate our lives for the ministry of God and continue to surrender our lives before Him and submit to God’s will, that it would be carried out in and through our lives. Let us continue to do the works He has called us for and pray and prepare for the greater task God has called us to carry out. May the Lord God Almighty bless us all! Amen!