Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

January 13
Wednesday


CREDIBILITY

READ:
1 Peter 2:11-21
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[Have] 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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The recent global financial crisis caused people to pay closer attention to their credit report. When credit was easy to get, some people became careless about how they used it. They didn't bother to save for what they wanted; they just borrowed. Being in debt was no big deal. But in a crisis, that is no longer the case. Having good credit is suddenly very important.

After an advertisement for a credit repair service, a local newscaster said, "Credit repair isn't something you can buy; it's something you have to work for."

The same principle applies to the credibility of our lives. we can't buy it; it's something we have to work for. We may be able to "borrow" credibility for a while by associating ourselves with credible people, but sooner or later we will need our own.

Credibility has to do with the ability to elicit belief. The reason it's essential for Christians is that our lives affect God's reputation (1 Peter 2:12). When we call ourselves by Christ's name. His reputation is tied to ours. If people have reason not to believe us, they may not believe God.

The way to earn credibility is to live honorably. Then others will believe and glorify God. __Julie Ackerman Link
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`````````````````````````FOR FURTHER STUDY``````````````````

`````````````Look at these scriptures about Christ's life:`````````````
````````````````Matthew 9:10-13; 20:28; Luke 6:12.```````````````
`````````````````How can you live the way He did?````````````````
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If we take care of our character,
our reputation will take care of itself.

**************Today's Bible Reading __1 Peter 2:11-21*************

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.

13 Therefore submit
yourselves to every
ordinance of man for the
Lord's sake, whether to the
king as supreme, 14 or to
governors, as to those who
are sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers and
for the praise of those who
do good. 15 For this is the
will of God, that by doing
good you may put to silence
the ignorance of foolish
men-- 16 as free, yet not
using liberty as a cloak for
vice, but as bondservants of
God. 17 Honor all people.
Love the brotherhood. fear
God. Honor the king.

18 Servants, be submissive
to your masters with all fear,
not only to the good and
gentle, but also to the harsh.

19 For this is commendable, if
because of conscience
toward God one endures
grief, suffering wrongfully.

20 For what credit is it if,
when you are beaten for your
faults, you take it patiently?
But when you do good and
suffer, if you take it patiently,
this is commendable before
God. 21 For to this you were
called, because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that you should
follow His steps.

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

The Greek word for follow in verse 21, "You should follow His
steps," means literally "to take the same road" that someone else
takes. We should walk the same spiritual path that Jesus walked and,
in turn, progressively become more Christlike. __DENNIS FISHER