Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing . . . (1 Peter 3:9) 

 

On January 30, 2018, almost thirty-eight years after his conviction, Malcolm Alexander walked out of prison a free man. DNA evidence cleared Alexander, who had steadfastly maintained his innocence amid a myriad of court proceedings that were tragically unjust. An incompetent defense attorney (later disbarred), shoddy evidence, and dubious investigative tactics all put an innocent man in prison for nearly four decades. When he was finally released, however, Alexander showed immense grace. “You cannot be angry,” he said. “There’s not enough time to be angry.” 

 

Alexander’s words evidence a deep grace. If injustice robbed us of thirty-eight years of our lives and destroyed our reputations, we would likely be angry, furious. Though Alexander spent many long, heartbreaking years bearing the burden of wrongs inflicted upon him, he wasn’t undone by the evil. Rather than exerting his energy trying to get revenge, he exhibited the posture Peter instructs: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult” (1 Peter 3:9). 

 

The Scriptures go a step further: rather than seeking vengeance, the apostle Peter tells us we are to bless (v. 9). We extend forgiveness, the hope of well-being, for those who have unjustly wronged us. Without excusing their evil actions, we can meet them with God’s scandalous mercy. On the cross, Jesus bore the burden of our wrongs, that we might receive grace and extend it to others—even those who have wronged us. 

 

Without excusing their actions, how can you extend mercy to others who have wronged you? What will it mean for you to “bless” them? 

 

God, it’s hard not to want those who hurt me to hurt just as much. Help me to live out Your mercy and grace. Amen.  

 

When I read this devotion it blessed me. What a profound statement, “There’s not enough time to be angry.” May we live our lives each and every day with that statement at the forefront of our minds. It’s always so easy to just react to injustice without giving much thought to extending mercy. Today, when someone cuts you off in traffic, honks at you, treats you wrong, is rude, cranky or careless, the list can go on and on, practice extending mercy. There’s not enough time to be angry. 

 

Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord! 

 

Today’s Reading is Psalms 94:19