I’ve heard it said that grudges are like “ugly pets.” And if we let them, those ugly pets will sit on our shoulders while we feed and pamper them. Actually, grudges will weigh us down, and eventually they can consume us.

So how do we get rid of a grudge? The apostle Peter offers just the right formula for killing pet grudges.

Throughout his letter to Christians who are facing hardship and persecution in Asia Minor, Peter often refers back to ground zero, his main point of reference: Jesus Christ. As Jesus has forgiven us, we too must forgive people who have offended or hurt us. So instead of nursing grudges against others, we must nurture those people with love.

How do we do that? Reflecting on Jesus’ words to put no limits on forgiveness (Matthew 5:43-45; 18:21-22), Peter writes, “Above all love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

Peter then lays out intentional steps for putting love into play: offering generous hospitality and using the gifts that God has given us to bless and serve others. As Peter learned from Jesus himself, when we forgive others, we demonstrate that we have been forgiven and are loved by God.