Compassion In Control

February 21st, 2026

1 Peter 3:8-14.

When we consider our call to extend the compassion of Christ to others, we often imagine that such love will be accepted and perhaps even returned in kind. While that is our hope, we acknowledge that it can take a great deal of effort to love those who will never return to us that love. It takes an even greater effort to love when we receive hate, disdain, or evil in return!

Our sinful instinct might sometimes be to repay hate or evil in kind. Another response might be to refuse to engage further with those who will not receive our love, saying, “If you can’t accept my love, I won’t waste any more time on you.”

What we must confront in our own hearts in this scenario is that it is our pride, not our compassion, that has taken control. True compassion and humility, which are paired in this passage, lead us to repay evil with blessing, because that is what Christ has called us to do. While such a commitment might lead us to moments of rejection and sadness, we know there is nothing to fear, for the Great Comforter is with us in all things.

Author: Grant Miller