Reading in the 2nd Chapter of Peter earlier this morning, I came upon this timely word of advice: “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” (verse 15) It is really a part of a bigger set of instructions to God’s children about the way we should conduct ourselves in the world. If there is one thing that repels the criticism and false accusations God’s people face on a regular basis, it is right living. Whether we like it or not, all eyes are upon us, so it behooves us to ask God constantly to help us to be good representatives of Christ. Jesus said: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)
The moment you declare, even hint, that you are a Christian, those around you will keep a closer eye on you than before. When you don’t live up to their concept of what a Christian should be, they’ll be the first ones to bring it to your attention. I had a co-worker many years ago who provided that service for me. I told him once to bring it to my attention anytime he would see me doing or saying something “unchristian.” He faithfully complied and anytime he would suspect that I was getting out of hand, he would say “Hey Sam, settle down!” He knew my middle name is Samuel and by calling me that he was suggesting that I was straying just a bit. The truth is that it benefits us if we have such people in our lives, those who warn us when are being “unchristian” even if they themselves are not believers.
So the next time someone calls us out for speech or behavior that is not in line with godly character, lets thank God for it. Whether the accusation is true or not, and whether it was done with good or bad intentions, it will be a reminder to us that the world is watching us. It will also remind us that by what we do and say, we can either be a blessing and benefit to others, or else we may push them farther away from Christ.
God’s word for today: (Ephesians 5:8) “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now ye are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”
