What do you do when a family member really hurts you? How are you suppose to respond? In fact, what is the most effective response to ensure your family member will hopefully change?

Loving each other as if our lives depended on it is the most important family theory you will develop for your children. Love truly does conquer all. When someone (especially a family member) hurts you, the most powerful response we can give is to respond in love. It practically guarantees that the family member will be forced into taking a hard look in the mirror and ultimately making a change for the good of the relationship.

The devotional:
Read 1 Peter 2: 8-14

⁸ Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. ⁹ That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless - that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing. ¹⁰ Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here's what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; ¹¹ Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth. ¹² God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things. ¹³ If with heart and soul you're doing good, do you think you can be stopped? ¹⁴ Even if you suffer for it, you're still better off. Don't give the opposition a second thought. (New Living Translation)

Notice that in verse 9 it says our job is to bless, pretty clear of what we're to do with people who treat us poorly, but there is also really good news on what happens if we choose to bless those who hurt us…it says that we will also be blessed. But the question is who will bless us? Is it the person who offended us? Possibly, and we certainly create an environment for that to happen. But as you find out in verse 12, it turns out that God is the one who is extremely happy with us! When we love our family (and others) regardless of how they treat us, we are putting a huge smile on God's face. God notices and promises to respond to our actions!

The verse I'd like us to memorize from this study is 1 Peter 4:8

Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. (The Message)

Possible family questions:

• How has mommy or daddy not been very nice to you? (this is a great way to model the behavior you want from your children)


• What does it mean to be humble, not to retaliate, and no sarcasm?


• How can we "snub" evil as a family?


• How can we "run" after peace as a family?

For more articles and advice from Michael Smalley please visit his website www.crashintolove.com.

© Copyright 2007 Smalley Relationship Center

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