When someone attacks your reputation, how do you feel? When someone assaults your character, how do you want to respond?  When someone harms you in any way, what do you want to give back?   

Here’s one sample of payback:

That I dug my key into the side of his
Pretty little souped-up four wheel drive
Carved my name into his leather seat
I took a Louisville slugger to both head lights
Slashed a hole in all four tires
Maybe next time he'll think before he cheats

“You’ve got some big shoes to fill.”

After grandpa died, I distinctly remember one sunny afternoon, when my mom, fighting tears as she lovingly spoke of her father, said to me, “You’ve got some big shoes to fill.”When I first heard those words, I immediately felt the weighty prospect of matching granddad’s legacy. As a young teen, I was more than slightly perturbed at this unfair expectation mom just placed on my shoulders.Years later, I realized the beauty of that moment: one mom hoping for her son to be a good man and to do great things. Mom believed the best for me and expected the best from me.

God believes the best for His children.So, how does God view us, His children? God sees His children as living stones and a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5), the very ones He called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).We are a chosen race and a royal priesthood, God’s own possession (1 Peter 2:9-10).Once nameless sojourners and exiles (1 Peter 2:11), we are now called God’s people (1 Peter 2:10).Once people without mercy, we are now much loved folks who have received His mercy in full (1 Peter 2:10).