Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.

...Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble.

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.

Whoever wants to embrace life

and see the day fill up with good,

Here's what you do:

Say nothing evil or hurtful;

Snub evil and cultivate good;

run after peace for all you're worth.

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.

 

1 peter 3: 4, 8-12 Message