How do you respond to mistreatment? 1 Peter 1-3

1 Peter 3:8-9 (NASBStr)

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

Peter is writing to the church, that, because of persecution and the anti-christian way of the authorities, is suffering under undo hardships.   This is the same Peter who took a sword in the garden and sliced off the ear of one of the military men who came to arrest Jesus.  Peter was zealous for Christ and didn't mind going to arms for the cause.  Of course, within hours of the sword in the garden incident, Peter shriveled up like a dead flower when asked if he was a follower of Christ.   So, years later, this same Peter is writing a letter to others who are suffering for the cause.   "To sum up" is how he begins this section, above.   He has already told them to follow the example of Christ, who when He was reviled, did not revile in return (1 Peter 2:21).  So, here he tells us to seek harmony, sympathy, brotherhood, kindness and humility.  He tells us we are not to return someone's evilness or insults with our own.  Yet, he tells us that ignoring them is not an option. We must also give them a blessing.  A Blessing!!   We aren't supposed to hate them, beat them, argue with them, or even tolerate and ignore them.  We are supposed to bless them.  Note the kicker at the end: "for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing."   We are blessed as we act like Christ and bless others, despite how they treat us.  We can only do this as we allow Christ to live in us by faith through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  The summary of Peter's words is to act like Christ and to offer love and blessing despite how we are treated.  That life style draws attention from others.   And, it points them to Christ, not us.