Called to bless

There are many good things in this passage, but verse 9, struck me today.

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9, ESV)

“Bless, for to this you were called.”

We were not called to curse others. We were not called to make lives miserable for others. Even when they make life miserable for us.

We are called to bless them. Why?

Because when we were enemies of God, he blessed us with his grace.

As Paul wrote in Romans 5:8,

“…God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (ESV)

And as we follow his example, blessing those around us though they don’t deserve it, we ourselves are blessed by God.

Am I a blessing to others? To my wife? To my daughter? To my coworkers? To my pastor? To the people at church? I don’t know. I hope so. I can see many ways I still need to learn what that means.

May we all live up to that calling God has given us, and be a blessing to those around us.