Bless those who hate you

not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. ‭‭I Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Do not return evil. That is a difficult but important lesson for a child of God. And a lesson that I believe is misinterpreted when it comes to blessing. And the wrong interpretation lies in the fact that Christians pronounce a blessing on people who want to harm them, who hate them. It is better not to bless people who represent darkness and practice it. For what fellowship has darkness with light (2 Corinthians 6:14)? A simple example, should you bless hamas terrorists who love nothing more than to commit genocide in the most gruesome way possible? 

What about blessing? First of all, you don't pay back according to your own judgement. If someone tries to manipulate you with manipulative language, or in some other way, you are not supposed to manipulate the other person yourself. The same goes for intimidation. There is a deeper meaning in blessing. Manipulating people is in our flesh. It can be activated in many ways. If you want to be a blessing, don't allow yourself to be manipulated. You recognize it and you don't go along with it. You may then experience anger towards you, is that a blessing? Yes. If you go along with it and give in, you allow someone's manipulative behavior to continue in his flesh. That person doesn't change. That's not a blessing. But if you do not confirm under the power of someone else and stand firm, you are actually a blessing. 

Jesus performed many wonders and signs. And yet they still asked Him for a sign (Matthew 12:38). Not to believe but to manipulate Him to get their way. They wanted to make Him king with power (John 6:15). He was not in charge, but the people were. It's pure manipulation. Jesus did not give in. He said that an evil generation receives a sign (Matthew 12:39). That is not returning evil for evil. That will only bring more harm. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, exposed their sinful nature and held up a mirror to them. It is up to us, then, to confess our sin and receive forgiveness. Unfortunately, many people chose the other route, the wide road. 

And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Paul did not repay in evil with evil. But he did leave judgment to the Lord (Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30). There he sought justice. He didn't scold back, but he did bring things into the light. If we really want to be a blessing, it is not about blessing everyone. It is about applying the Wisdom from above and putting the power of God into action. Then no evil or slander will come from us, but blessing. That does not always have to produce a pleasant reaction, nor did it with the Lord Jesus. But our Lord is exalted and He becomes more and more visible in us. And the beautiful thing is that His Words through us never return void (Isaiah 55:11). And that is a blessing that I believe you would like to inherit.