“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. FOR, “Whoever would love life and see good days MUST KEEP his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.…”- (1 Peter 3:9-10}.

“PAY BACK” Not with Evil, Nor with Using the tongue, lips, Speech to do so, But PAY BACK with “BLESSING!” The verse does not say to deny you have been treated with evil nor with insult, for it declares this has happened BUT it does say how as a child of God to RESPOND, to PAYBACK…
AND IT IS COMPLETE OPPOSITE TO HOW YOU HAVE BEEN TREATED AND HOW EVEN YOU MAY “FEEL” LIKE RESPONDING NAMELY BY PAY BACK WITH EVIL AND INSULT! It does not mean to humbly clarify or correct a misunderstanding but it does mean when someone is insulting you with mean speech, put downs, don’t return with likewise “evil or insult…deceitful speech.” But that your “walk” v 9… and “words”- v 10 are Christlike. BE DIFFERENT when TEMPTED to Payback hurt with hurt, insult with insult, “evil,” with evil and “deceitful speech.” Don’t return “put down’s” with  more “put down’s” or “sarcasm” with sarcasm. or name calling with name calling. Don’t do like for like do what God says to do! Some translations say “Refrain” and literally means “STOP IT.” Stop your tongue from evil and speaking deceptively. “Do Not…” do this!

The word “deceitful” speaks of manipulative speech…

“It refers to anything calculated to manipulate, deceive, mislead, or distort the facts. Deception is a barrier to healthy communication, since it is self-seeking and it destroys trust. It may be a deliberate attempt to bend the facts to suit your side of the story. Or perhaps you don’t mention certain facts so that the other person gets a skewed view of what really happened. It may be telling a person one thing to his face, but saying something else behind his back. That way, people side with you against him. It may be exaggeration: “You always …” “You never …” -{Stephen Cole}.

Don’t Be deceptive, manipulative, destructive with your speech by PAYBACK with evil for evil, insult for insult, using words that distort, destroy, tear down, put down.

THINK- TALK- TRUST
THINK about It. In order to REPAY evil with evil, insult with insult, deceitful speech you have to first do what? THINK..! Then ACT on what you are THINKING! You and I have to THINK… how can we REPAY such evil… you have to THINK about it and then use your SPEECH, the TONGUE to carry out, REPAY the evil, with insult, deceitful speech.The evil speech come forth from an evil heart!

So we have to control and counteract such THINKING with… TRUTH-God’s Word and Then Choose to BE TRANSFORMED by choosing to DO His Word and trust Him in the matter with the people involved! Slow down and THINK  RIGHT THOUGHTS, First…

Will This Honor God?

Will This be doing things God’s Way?

I may “feel” better momentarily if I return evil with evil. But then that REFLECTS SOMETHING THAT IS TRUE IN ME…EVIL IN MY OWN THINKING COMING FORTH FROM EVIL IN MY HEART… Think right…{Phil 4:8}. Do right.{Phil 4:9}. TRUST GOD’S WAY !

The “Thoughts” of REPAYING with Evil come to mind, but that does not mean you or me have to Yield and SUBMIT to the Temptation to sin against God. For the Verses teaches us HOW TO RESPOND and how to REPAY… GOD’S WAY!

Make a choice to Love God! Does that mean they will change, if you love them? Not necessarily! But you are not responsible for their actions only yours!

Paul wrote to Timothy,-“And the Lord’s servant MUST NOT BE QUARRELSOME BUT KIND TO EVERYONE, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”-{2 Tim 2:24-26}

1 Peter 3:9-10 Reminds us of…
* COMMAND’S TO BE OBEYED
* CHOICE’S TO BE MADE
* A REFLECTION OF LOVE FOR GOD DISPLAYED –

HOW? By REPAYING with Blessing to those who have chosen evil and insult against you. It is not enough to not return evil with evil, but to DO SOMETHING Different...something Good and Godly, that Honors God.

  • Choose To REPAY unkind speech with KINDNESS. Say something kind to them in return. “Jesus said, “Bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:28). “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification {Build Up} according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear”-(Eph. 4:29). Build up, encourage with your words. Choose to use words that Build up and not tear down. “Unwholesome” means rotten, like rotten fruit or meat!

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”-{Prov 15:1}. Note the RESULT of “a gentle word, and “…a harsh word!”  This is a good verse to hide in your heart and practice!

At times You may have to fight through hurt feelings but you and I CANNOT allow such feelings to dictate and control our responses! If we do, then we will live emotional and spiritual roller coaster lives and God will not be reflected in and through us!

It takes supernatural power, which the Spirit of GOD SUPPLIES AND NOW THE CHOICE… to RESPOND…GOD’S WAY… Choose God’s way, and in doing so you express Love to Him-{Read John 14:21}

At the heart of evil is an evil heart!

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”- {Luke 6:45; Read Matt 12:34}.

It is pure self-centeredness, that has self at the center and no regard for God or others apart from seeking to use them  for self gain! It’s a command Do Not repay evil with evil… but then the command to be doing good by BE BLESSING.

Note the active good of thought and choices that is commanded, and this you can do as what He commands He also empowers. Now, it comes down to a  choice of LOVE. Love of self or love for God? You can deny yourself, you can not only say “no” to returning evil with evil, you have the power to continually CHOOSE TO go on the offensive and BE A BLESSING! Choose to Do right because He says it is right and by faith keep choosing and acting lovingly!

Good verses to Memorize, Meditate on, Pray through for yourself and other believers. Choose to share to Help Others PRE Conflict and if they fail, to REMIND them for next time- God’s way for us to “PAY BACK TIME”… is Different.

You can be DIFFERENT IN YOUR RESPONSE, THE Holy Spirit is within you to enable you “…it is God who is at work IN YOU, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. ” -{Read Phil 2:13}

How is your Pay Back Time?
Returning evil for evil, insult with insult or with BLESSING… and speech that is DIFFERENT…?

We all ‘PAY BACK…’ but Choose God’s Way! If you have failed, sinned, thank God the Blood of Jesus Cleanses from all unrighteousness and we can confess our sin, repent and replace the sin with THINKING Right and this by HIDING HIS WORD in our heart and in dependence upon the Holy Spirit leaning on Him to work in and through us Godly response.. and we can DO RIGHT {Read Phil 4:8-9}… and CHOOSE TO PAY BACK- GOD’S WAY…

BE DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU ARE DIFFERENT… YOU ARE THE LORD’S! You have the POWER to Pay Back His Way… and believe me you will have opportunities to PRACTICE His way!