1 Peter 3:9-12 (NLT)
9 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 bless you for it. 10 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.11 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 12 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.”

In these verses Peter gives instruction on how to behave toward those who are against you. A person is not to repay an evil deed with evil, but instead should offer the person something which blesses them. Peter reminds us this is God’s request and He will in return give back blessings for the blessings you offer.

There is an old saying; two wrongs don’t make a right. How many times have you ever seen someone doing something wrong and you become overwhelmed with the feeling it just isn’t right? Then moments later you start thinking, well if they can do it, why can’t I? It could be something as simple as watching others break in line and then deciding you are going to do the same. Or you may choose to call them down in a harsh way, not realizing they needed the love of Christ in their life. What example did you just set by your reaction? We do not have to build our happiness on the unhappiness of others. When we take our own actions against someone else we take control out of God’s hands. Our bitterness, hatred, vindictiveness all become our own self induced misery. Eventually God may take disciplinary actions on us. In Matthew 7:1-2 it says, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” The next time someone does something to you which causes anger, stop and pray that God would help you to understand others and the hurts they may have in their life. Pray you would be a witness of His love and not of your own anger. Pray retribution would be taken from your hands and placed in the loving hands of the Lord who knows how to deal with another’s sin.