Living under God’s Attentiveness

Photo by Jude Beck on Unsplash
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.” Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?
1 Peter 3:8–13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.3.8-13.NLT
Let’s stay together, think together, work together. Live in a way that is present for each other, really taking time to understand and appreciate each other. Love like family.
Keep a tender spirit and a humble attitude. Please do not spend time or effort thinking or acting on ways to dish out evil or to get back at others who have hurt you. Instead, do the unthinkable, and “get back at them” with a blessing, an act of kindness, and undeserved love.
God has called us to live this way. It is more than “an ask.” Living this way is part of being in relationship with Him and others. Living this way is His way.
God’s word says “If you want to live life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from doing evil and do good. Search for peace and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”
Encouragement: Live today knowing that God is attentive and responsive to you. Live to do good in this world, regardless of what the initial response is.
Prayer: Father, thank You for being attentive to me. Thank you for laying out a way to live that helps people see and know how just, loving and kind You are. I need help living this way. Please help me bring Your good to this world today. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
-Ed McDowell, Executive Director
Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center