9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,  “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil  and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good;   they must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

What is your response when someone insults you? What is your response when someone does something against you that is wrong? The natural instinct is to strike back. Retaliation is so easy and justified, if we think we have been wrong. Yet, Jesus taught nonresistance. Christ followers are not to return insult for insult. That is contrary to feelings, but isn't that the essence of Christian conduct - acting contrary to our old and fallen nature?   

One of the Daily Bread devotionals tells of a Christian man who bought a farm. His new neighbor said,

“You have bought yourself a lawsuit.”
 "What do you mean?" 
"Well, it's this way. Your fence is 10 feet too far over on my side and I'm taking the matter to court to prove it."
"Oh, don't do that," said the new neighbor, "if the fence is in the wrong place, we'll move it to where you claim it should be."  
The unbeliever was completely disarmed. "Do you really mean that?"
 "Well, of course I do. The Lord tells me to live peaceably with all men, and I intend to follow His orders." 
The gruff man smiled and said "I'm sorry. Let’s just leave the fence where it is."    

Do you ever think when you find a quarrelsome individual, to be willing to suffer loss for the sake of Christ if necessary? A loving attitude will bring God’s approval. It may even turn away the enemy’s wrath.

Not only does the Christian refuse to retaliate but he also takes positive steps of repaying insult with blessing. To call down God's blessing, even upon his enemies, is truly a spiritually lead individual. I haven't reach that point yet in my own life. I'm working on it.  

Peter knew the injustices his friends were suffering; he knew they were unjustified. It was the loving acceptance of personal abuse, strong enough to overcome evil, that prompted it. This is the way that we will also inherit a blessing - a blessing that comes is from God, if we act the way we are supposed to act and not act the way we feel like acting. God delights in bestowing His favor on all who gladly obey Him, if not now then there is reward to come.

The Bible says to turn from evil do good. The man who desires oneness and harmony, who desires to live according to God's perfect will, is one who is a seeker of that will. Peter got this formula from Psalm 34. As a seeker of God and His will you seek to do what is right and not wrong.

Become a seeker of peace and pursue it. Go after it with all your heart. This is the reminder that the Lord is looking with favor upon those who seek to obey Him. God’s ears are attentive to their prayer. God listens.  

While God actively pursues the welfare of the righteous, His face is set against those who do evil. The person who has decided to do evil rather than pursue good has placed himself beyond the help of God.

Being a seeker of peace begins with the Lord It is a spiritual decision that says "Oh God, I have been one who has not sought oneness with brothers and sisters in Christ. I have not watched my tongue, but said things that should not have been said. I need empathy and love, I need restraint in what I do and say.

Application:  A seeker of peace does what is right even if we don't feel that way. Let God do His work in us in such situations.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to put everything in Your hands.   When I feel wronged, let me always pursue peace rather than acting on my old fallen nature.