"Good Deeds"

“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 2:12

When Peter speaks of living good lives, and doing good deeds, he is not implying being perfect. After all, he should know, right? Of all people, Peter understands about being awkwardly, painfully, and haphazardly human. We remember him for his “over the top” zealousness and for his tendency to “give up” and “give in” to his fears and weaknesses.

So, what is a good life? Isn’t it being sinless? Only one person did that and Peter knew him well. So maybe living “good lives” is more about sinning less and less. Perhaps it is about being real and transparent, without excuses, and with hope. How about those around us seeing us be conscientious, caring, compassionate, introspective, confessional, and hammering out our spiritual maturity on the anvil of accountability and constantly renewed efforts to make measurable progress towards fulfilling God’s will for our lives. Lord knows whatever we have been doing to represent Christ apparently isn’t winning over the world. Could it hurt to try harder to do some good deeds and clean up our acts honestly and without so much phoniness or false humility? I believe we can make a difference and be a more positive influence.

Whether you need to “lighten up” or “buckle down”, let God get a better hold on you so the pagans can see more of a difference, and we can have a more meaningful impact. I’m just a little convicted, how about you?

Inside out,
Pastor Fred

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