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I Peter 2.12 (NIV)
Live such good lives among the
pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good
deeds and glorify God.
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| A Christian should do good works, not to be seen of men but because we are seen of men.* |
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When
my sister was a toddler, she got mad at me once and, having a limited
vocabulary, she announced that I was “decent.” She did not mean it as a
compliment.
In
this world, I would like for people to speak well of me – but, if they can’t
speak well of me, to at least speak the truth. I think this is what Peter is
telling us. Your life can be a testimony even when it is being criticized and
belittled. I read somewhere that early Christians were accused of being atheists
because they didn’t believe in gods. By
denouncing them for not believing in multiple gods, their accusers were
testifying to the Christians’ belief in the one true God.
But Peter’s admonition is about more than how we look to
the pagans and what they have to say about us. “See your good deeds”
could also be translated “gain insight by your good deeds.”* We aren’t saved by our good
deeds but we could lead someone else to salvation by them. The world is
watching to see if we are authentic; to see if our walk matches our talk.
What insight might an unbeliever gain from observing
your good deeds?
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| Our holy living is not just to please God but to attract others to him.* |
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