For Kids · 4 min with a grown-up
Peter keeps writing to God's family. Now he shows them how to treat people — even people who are not nice.
Today's Story
Peter wants God's family to be the kindest people anywhere. So he gives them some good rules for getting along.
He says, “Live together in peace. Be kind and tender. Love one another like a family.” That means sharing, taking turns, and being gentle with your words.
But then Peter says something surprising. What do you do when someone is mean to you? When someone says a hurtful word or does a hurtful thing? Most people want to be mean right back. Peter says no. He says, “Do not pay back evil with evil. Do not pay back unkind words with unkind words. Instead, ask God to bless that person.”
That is a big, brave thing to do. It is not always easy. But Peter says God sees us, and God loves it when we choose to be gentle.
Peter also says that if anyone asks why we are so full of hope and so kind, we can tell them about Jesus. We can do it gently and with a smile, never in a mean way.
Being good and gentle is always the right path, Peter says, because God is watching over us with love.
A Big Word
Memory Verse
Talk About It
- Has anyone ever been unkind to you? What did you feel like doing back?
- Peter says we can answer unkind words with kind ones. What is a kind thing you could say to someone who was grumpy with you?
- Why do you think being gentle is sometimes harder than being mean? Who can help us be gentle?