Making it personal
Sandwiched in between our response to persecution are a couple of jewels. Once again, these are built upon the idea that we have the proper mind set. However, Paul reminds us that we are to be of one mind and that mind is the mind of Christ. Not our wisdom but the wisdom of the scriptures.
Then Paul tells us not to pay back evil with evil. This goes against our human nature. We love to recompense evil for evil because we think it is a form of justice. However, Paul goes on to say that God will repay. He will avenge His children. He is perfectly just. So, why would we want to try to deal out justice? Instead, we are to simply serve our great Father and let Him deal out justice.
In the midst of all of this, Paul tells us to live at peace with all men if it is possible. We cannot control what others do, say or think but we can control how we conduct ourselves, what we say and what we think. Therefore, we should do all that we can to live peaceably with those around us.
This does not mean that we are to just roll over and let people abuse us. We still have a duty to stand relentlessly for the truth. The other side is to let God take care of the rest. This is the toughest part for me because I want so much for others to see the truth and change accordingly. We are not the Holy Spirit and we could never do His job. So, we need to do what God calls us to do and never quench the Spirit who knows when and how.