Be Good - For God's Sake!

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, thought 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

Be Good!! This instruction, given often by my mom, I now repeat frequently to my own children. But why did my Mom want me (and why do I want mine) to be good? One honest reason - because we want people to think our children are wonderful and that we are not terrible! Like it or not, and whether it’s true or not, in the eyes of others, our kids’ behavior says a lot about us.

“Live such good lives among the pagans that…they may see your good deeds and glorify God…” Be Good!! It’s an instruction from our Father, who has replaced the terrible in us with His wonderful life. Now He wants us to live so that through our goodness the people around us will see His glory. In the eyes of others, His kids’ behavior says a lot about God.

As Peter wrote, perhaps he remembered what Jesus once said. “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) We have such a good God. We should live such a good life. Not so that the people around us will say, “Yeah you!” But so they will say, “Yeah God!”

As you shine God’s light through your good life, not everyone will like what you do or will like you. But don’t stop being good even if others accuse you of being bad. In the end, even they will come around and admit the truth. And God will be glorified the whole time.

So live a “such good” life – not of pride but of praise.
Don’t be a goody-two shoes. Just be good.
And people will see God.



Time For A Little R&R

REFLECT
Who is someone around you who shines God’s praises by his/her good life?
Who is someone around you who needs to see more of God through your life?

RESPOND
Be good. And give God the glory.