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by Robin McKinley

How does a person enjoy life? If you search the internet, you will find a gazillion suggestions. If, however, you want to enjoy life to the fullest, check out what the Apostle Peter wrote.

For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. 1 Peter 3:10

In the first few verses of 1 Peter 3, the apostle outlined the biblical responsibilities of husbands and wives. Then he went on to address all Christians with the following list.

• All of you should be of one mind.  
• Sympathize with each other.  

• Love each other as brothers and sisters.  
• Be tenderhearted,  
• And keep a humble attitude.  
• Don’t repay evil for evil.  
• Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you.  

• Instead, pay them back with a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9

That is quite a list! But not an impossible one. You see, God is always there to help us through anything we can’t do on our own.

Then Peter followed up with two reasons why we should strive to exhibit those characteristics.

First, it’s what God has called us to do. Second, its fulfillment comes with a promise.

That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. 1 Peter 3:9

Peter got his inspiration for what he wrote next from David’s writing in Psalm 34. Look at the question the Psalmist asked.

Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Psalm 34:12

That’s not a rhetorical question. What kind of life do you want to live? Do you want to live a life that you can enjoy? To do so, look at what David continued writing.

Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. Psalm 34:13-14

There is nothing passive about what David wrote. A good foundation for your life will require a conscious effort. But it will result in a long prosperous life you can enjoy. 

Love Completes us 

The tasks listed in verses 8 and 9 all deal with how we should treat others. So if you want to enjoy and love your life then love people.  

 Love motivated Christ to die on the cross. He died not only to reconcile us to God but to reconcile us to each other as well. His death destroyed the barriers between us.

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. Ephesians 2:14

This verse encourages us to go beyond loving people who love us. As Jesus united Jews and Gentiles, He will also unite us with our enemies.

When we love one another and love our enemies only then can we love and enjoy life. According to our verse for today, we can also see many happy days.

Enjoy Life by Turning Toward Good. 

In verse 11, Peter concurred with what David said about turning away from evil and doing good.

Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 1 Peter 3:11

Let’s not simply turn “away,” from evil, but let’s also turn toward doing good. That is the first step in searching for peace and putting us on the road to maintaining it.

We can enjoy life in its fullest when we live our lives according to God’s calling for us.

Lord, help us to watch what we say as we go out of our way to do good. Show us how to work at searching for and maintaining peace in our lives.

About the Author: 

Robin, with his wife Cindy, became children’s evangelists early in their ministry. They ministered to children full time for 8 years. During that time they developed several children’s stories which were told with visuals and puppets.

Robin recently turned two of those stories into children’s books. One is called “The Contest,” a book about the Fruit of the Spirit, and the other is called “Twas the Night of Christmas”.  He has also authored 5 volumes of devotional books called, 3 Minutes Alone with God. Each entry is a product of his personal biblical Journaling.

These and his other writings are available on his website called Christian Perspectives at www.ramckinley.com. When you visit this site, you can sign-up for newly written devotions as they come out which will be emailed to you.

Presently Robin is the pastor of Calvary Christian Center in Pottstown, PA. He is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God. He and his wife make their home in Birdsboro, Pa. He also serves as the president of the local ministerium. He and Cindy have two married sons and four grandchildren.