Love Life and See Good Days

 

Recently, as I was reading my Bible, I saw a date in the margin of I Peter 3: January 31, 1999. That was a little over twenty-five years ago, folks. Twenty-five years. I remember where I was standing in my kitchen when the import of those words in I Peter hit me, and I decided they would be a good goal for the coming year/decade/century/millennium. I think I must have been washing dishes or possibly preparing to cook because I was standing near the pots hanging on the blue pegboard beside the sink. (I no longer have the same kitchen but do still own some of the same pots. I think there’s a useful metaphor here, but I’ll have to save it for later.)

That I could think about the passage while standing in my kitchen is partly due to the fact that someone back in my college days urged me to memorize scripture—not just random scattered verses, but long sections with context and multiple sentences and paragraphs. I really can’t recall who or what spurred me to this endeavor; maybe I was simply prompted by God’s Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the practice.

And here are the verses from I Peter 3:10-11—“For he that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it” (KJV). Let’s see those verses in a different version-- For

“Whoever desires to love life

and see good days,

let him keep his tongue from evil

and his lips from speaking deceit;

  let him turn away from evil and do good;

let him seek peace and pursue it (ESV).

 

In his letter to the churches, Peter is quoting a psalm of David. I’m thinking it’s possible Peter had himself memorized the psalm, and it came to his mind as he was giving instructions to believers in the proper way to conduct a Christian life.

 

I recently retyped and reorganized my memory list, trusting in God to lead me in the work. And this month I’m working on learning Psalm 34, the original source of these verses. It seems appropriate to be looking at these verses here at the beginning of yet another new year, for who among us doesn’t want to “love life and see good days”?

 

When I thought about these verses back in 1999, I determined that this admonition would be my goal for the year. I can’t confirm that I’ve adhered to every word over the years. Certainly the choice to turn away from evil and to speak only truth is one that must be made over and over, so these verses still stand out in my mind as something to aspire to, with God’s help. If you’re still casting about for your word for the year or a goal you might put in front of yourself, here are some possibilities:

 

1.    Memorize scripture.

2.    Keep my tongue from evil.

3.    Seek peace.

4.    All of the above.

 

--Sherry Poff