1 Peter 2:12

Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbours. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honourable behaviour, and they will give honour to God when he judges the world.

Socrates, the famous Greek philosopher, once said “the unconsidered life is not worth living”. Peter would have agreed with him, because he knew that it was crucially important for Christians to think very carefully about their way of life. It wasn’t good enough for them merely to have the right doctrines. They needed to ensure that their daily life reflected their Christian faith, so that those around them would get a very clear picture of what it meant to live for Christ. But the importance of living well was even greater in an environment where the Christians were hated and often the target of slanderous accusations. It was vital that they lived uprightly so that false allegations would be immediately seen as nonsense.

We might not be in such an embattled situation, but you can be sure that the way you live is always being noticed. Whether you like it or not, people will be drawing conclusions about the Christian faith from what they see in you. If you are always grumpy and negative, that will bound to leave a very powerful and damaging impression. On the other hand, if you are always positive and cheerful it will give an attractive and encouraging picture of what it means to follow Christ. In writing to the Corinthians, Paul spoke about their lives being like letters that anyone could read and which showed the reality of God at work in them.

In this life we will never be perfect, and we should always live with a continual awareness of our need for forgiveness. But the New Testament encourages us to think carefully about the way in which we live, in the sure knowledge that other people are reading our lives and looking for clear evidence of what Christianity is all about.

Question

Think of the last week. What impression of Christianity would people have picked up from your life?

Prayer

Lord God our Father, I confess that I often let you down. Help me to live more and more closely to you, so that others will see your love, joy and peace in my life. Amen