The Best Response to Provocation

1 Peter 2:12
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Peter 2:15
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

Apostle Peter writes to the Church advising them on how to respond to provocation. You can’t avoid provocation. The majority of people are completely unable to mind their own business, consequently, to get you engaged with them, they provoke you. How do you respond to provocation?

Those who are jealous will provoke you in order to rubbish your achievements. Others will provoke you to find a reason from your response that they can use against you. Others provoke because they find diabolical pleasure when you are hurt and disturbed. How do you respond to provocation?

If you excel financially, you will be provoked by rumors that you corrupted your way up. You will be accused of surviving on favors and not competence. Provocation hurts but in a sinful world and with sinners around us, it is inevitable. How do you respond to provocation?

A happy family will be provoked. Your happiness will be declared as fake and that there are serious wars behind the seeming happiness. Your happiness will be said to be a result of one person unduly subduing the other. The family will be said to have illegitimate children. Provocation will not cease. How do you respond to provocation?

A hardworking person will be provoked. The aim will be to stop you from working hard so that you can be like the rest of the lazy mortals. Provocation sometimes is to ensure that you don’t stand out. How do you respond to provocation?

It has been correctly said that only a fruit tree is stoned. People don’t throw stones where there are no fruits. If you see people throwing stones at a tree, there must be something they want for themselves from that tree. Provocation is a sign that you got some value that people want for themselves. It’s painful but it is an indirect commendation. Therefore, how do you respond to provocation?

Since it is those who do good who are provoked, Apostle Peter advises us to keep doing the good that has triggered the provocation. Don’t back down. Keep doing good. Keep on living a good life. Be so good that those who provoke will have no option but to acknowledge you and the power of God in you. This is the best way to respond to provocation!

Apostle Peter tells us that persistence in doing right will ultimately silence those who provoke us. Are you provoked to fight? Don’t fight. Are you provoked to revenge? Don’t revenge. Are you provoked to stop preaching and teaching? Don’t stop it. Are you provoked to stop going the extra mile for your family and your workplace? Don’t stop it. This is the best way to respond to provocation!

Those who provoke you will glorify God on the day He visits you. That means your persistence in doing good, will one day receive favor from God. God watches as we are provoked. One day God will visit you and bless your days of provocation. Are you provoked? God is watching and will come to your rescue. God will one day visit those who are being provoked. Until then keep doing good even when you are provoked to stop. This is the best response to provocation!

It is God’s will that persistence in doing good will silence those who provoke. It is God’s will means it has power from God. Persistence in doing good is powered by God to produce silence in those who provoke. In other words, God Himself will silence them if we persist in doing good. This is the best response to provocation!

Provocation is bound to happen and is happening. Provocation will come from people who are outside the church and even from the seemingly holiest in the church. The best response is, don’t stop doing what is good. Keep doing the good for two reasons. First, God will use persistence in doing good to silence them. Secondly, God will visit you and restore and reward you after the damage done by provocation. Persist in doing good. This is the best response to provocation!

Do not be provoked to stop educating that needy child. Do not be provoked to stop the straight talk. Do not be provoked to hate those you love. Do not be provoked to turn against people who have stood by you. Do not be provoked to betray or shed innocent blood so to speak. Persist in doing good. This is the best response to provocation!

Provocation is termed as ignorant talk of foolish people. If someone visits you to provoke you against someone else, do not take heed. Ignore the visitor and persist in doing good. Do not be provoked by ignorant foolish people unless you are one of them. Ignorant foolish people come as anonymous online warriors who provoke us and challenge us and make us feel like we are useless. Ignore them and persist in doing good. This is the best response to provocation!

Dear God, help me never to be among those who provoke others. Save me from jealousy that may cause me to provoke others. Save me from those who provoke. Give me the spirit of persistence in doing good. Dear God, silence those who provoke me. Dear God, visit me and restore me and reward me by your favor, after all these provocations that have been visited on me. Visit me and be glorified, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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