If you search for “how to love life” on Amazon, you will find over 20,000 different books written on the subject. The number shows how difficult the notion of loving life can be to people. There is a vast number of people that are walking through life in misery. Are you one of those people? In 1 Peter 3:10-11, the apostle gives us four quick points that we can add to our lives to, “love life, and see good days”.
First, he says that one should mind their tongue. The Bible has a lot to say about gossip and cursing people, yet it is probably the thing that is most often overlooked. James 3:5 talks about the tongue being a small fire that consumes so much fuel. Our tongue will consume the goodness of our life.
Secondly, Peter tells us to “turn away from evil, and do good”. When Cain sinned, God him, “why has your countenance fallen?”. The answer to that question was “because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous (1 John 3:12). Doing evil sucks the joy right out of us. On the other hand, doing good gives life meaning and joy.
Third, Peter tell us to seek peace. This would begin first and foremost with God. Our sins separate and make us enemies with him (Col 1:21). Peter is talking to people who have been reconciled to God through the gospel(1 Pet 1:1, 3:21). A life without God, no matter how immediately joyful we may feel, is really a waste.
Since Peter is talking to Christians, the immediate application is to seek peace with those in the world. This peace seeking is limitless. In the subsequent verses he is going to talk about suffering persecutions. The secret to loving life is seeking peace even with your worst enemy (Matt 5:9-12).
Fourth he says to pursue peace. A lot of people don’t love life because even though they desire peace, they haven’t pursued it. For whatever reason they have kept from reaching out to that estranged friend or family member. Maybe they feel like they have been wronged and it is the other persons responsibility to reach out. Whatever the reason, it is standing in the way of loving life seeing good days.
May God help us love life!
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