Now there's a hard thing to do, especially when they have gotten your goat and your thoughts are of pushing them off a cliff! Impossible you say! Be honest, there are people that just rub you the wrong way. Sometimes it seems that their goal in life is to aggravate you (or me). They are intent in their mission – whether it's their mannerisms or the "off the wall" comments they make or their squeeky, whiney voice – it drives you crazy.
Then, there are the words that make you feel like dirt!
Yet, there is Peter, who says "bless them." [more]
Considering Peter's early days with Jesus, you have to wonder where he got the coolness he wants other believers to have. After all, wasn't it Peter who just whacked off that guys ear? And remember Peter trying to tell Jesus to "forget this 'I'm going to suffer' stuff." That was the old Peter before he learned that he was not the greatest person in the world – before the wind got knocked out of his sails – before God showed him that people other than Jews were OK.
Now he says to us "be different." Maybe he needed to write a book on "How Jesus Changed Me" that would have made the best sellers list. All Peter is saying is "Treat people different." The message from Jesus about "turning the other cheek" finally got through and he wants us to hear it again and again.
"Don't be like them – bless people instead" is his message in chapter 3. Let the evil doer do their evil, but don't return it in kind. Let them insult you, but don't get in a "dissing" war. "Bless them."
Easy for him to say…maybe I need to look at what a blessing is. More about that next time.