Eschew Evil and Seek Peace 1 Peter 3:11

As Peter continued to tell the “scattered” Christians to “be of one mind”, he included ways they were to react to those who “rendered” them “evil” and “railing”. They were to “bless” those who treated them in this manner, and if they “will love life, and see good days”, they would refrain their “tongue from evil” and their “lips” from “speaking guile”. In chapter three and verse eleven of his letter, Peter told the Christians to “eschew evil”, “do good” and “seek peace” where we read:

Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

The verse begins, “Let him eschew evil, and do good;” Peter began with the word, “Let him eschew” which means “turn aside from, deviate from and shun” “evil” or “bad nature, base, wrong, wicked, troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive and baneful thinking, feeling and acting”, “and do good” which means “of good constitution or nature, useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy, excellent and distinguished behavior”. “Christians” were to stay away from “evil” and do things which were “pleasant, agreeable and joyful”.

The verse goes on to say, “let him seek peace, and ensue it.” Peter added, “let him seek” or “look for in order to find, aim for, strive for, require, crave and demand” “peace” which means “a state of national tranquility, harmony, concord, security, safety, prosperity and felicity”, “and ensue it” or “to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away and pursue”. Not only were the “Christians” to turn aside from “evil” and do “good”, they were also to strive for, crave and pursue “peace” and tranquility.

We should be inspired as we consider Peter's words because we have the opportunity to “turn away from” “evil” and think about, feel and do the things that are excellent and useful. May the Lord Jesus help us to not only know what He considers “evil”, but to “do good” as we seek after and pursue “peace”.

Next time Peter tells the Christians “the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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