Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 29
Saturday


A BETTER
WORLD

READ
1 Peter 2:9-12
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[keep] your conduct
honorable among the
Gentiles, that...they
may, by your good
works which they
observe, glorify God.
__1 Peter 2:12
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In one of my favorite Peanuts cartoons featuring charlie Brown, the always confident Lucy declared, "How could the world be getting worse with me in it? Ever since I was born the world has shown a distinct improvement!"

Of course, Lucy is displaying an unrealistic and elevated opinion of herself, but she makes an interesting point. What if we were to try to make the world a better place by displaying the love of christ wherever God has placed us?

When Peter wrote to persecuted believers, he advised them to "[keep] your conduct honorable" (1 Peter 2:12) by doing good deeds that will ultimately bring glory to God. In other words, we can make our world a better place through our actions. Think of the difference that Christlike deeds of love, mercy, forgiveness, justice, and peace would make in our world. I've always thought that if we lived out this verse, people might say, "Our office is a better place because_______works here." Or, "Our neighborhood is a better neighborhood." Or, "Our school is a better school."

We can't change the entire world singlehandedly, but by God's grace we can let the difference Christ has made in us make a difference in the world around us. __Joe Stowell

`````````````````````````Love is giving for the world's needs,``````````````````````
``````````````````````````Love is sharing as the Spirit leads,``````````````````````
`````````````````````````Love is caring when the world cries,``````````````````````
``````````````````Love is compassion with Christlike eyes. __Brandt``````````````````
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Everyone can do something to make the world
better__we can let Christ shine through us.

*****************************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Peter 2:9-12****************************

9 But you are a chosen
generation, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation,
His own special people, that
you may proclaim the
praises of Him who called
you out of darkness into
His marvelous light; 10 who
once were not a people but
are now the people of God,
who had not obtained
mercy but now have
obtained mercy.

11 Beloved, I beg you as
sojourners and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly lusts
which war against the soul,

12 having your conduct
honorable among the
Gentiles, that when they
speak against you as
evildoers, they may, by
your good works which
they observe, glorify God in
the day of visitation.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Peter wrote to encourage believers in Asia Minor (modern Turkey)
who were being persecuted because they were Christians. Verses
11-12 contain the summary application of Peter's exhortation:
Christians are to live honorable and blameless lives and do good
works before an unbelieving and hostile world so that those who
don't believe can be won to the Lord. Peter reminded them that they
were chosen by God to be His people for this purpose of witnessing
and testifying to God's love (vv.9-10) and were to be ready to
share the gospel when the opportunity presented itself (3:15-16).
The apostle Paul also exhorted his readers to live godly lives (Rom
23:12-13; Phil. 2:15; Col. 4:3-6; 1 Thess. 4:12; Titus 2:7-8; 3:8,14).

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