1 Peter 2:12
Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles,
so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers,
they may because of your good deeds,
as they observe them,
glorify God in the day of visitation.
Devotional
If you live the Gospel first,
men will listen better later!
— Mears
The Bible makes it crystal clear that our own poor human efforts can never save us (Ephesians 2:8,9).
On the other hand, it is true that when we receive Christ and enjoy eternal life as a gift of grace, our “good works” may indeed be instrumental in leading others to the Savior!
This is well illustrated in the following incident:
“A missionary returning after many years of service was asked, ‘Jones, tell me what you found at your station in New Guinea.”
‘Found? I found something that looked more hopeless than if I had been sent into a jungle of tigers.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Why, those people were so fierce and degraded that they seemed utterly devoid of moral sense.
▪︎ If a mother were carrying her little baby and the child began to cry, she would throw it into the ditch and let it die.
▪︎ If a man saw his father break his leg, he would leave him upon the roadside
to suffer by himself.
They had no compassion whatever.
They didn’t even know what the word meant.’
‘Well, what did you do for them? Did you preach?’
‘No, not at first. I thought it better to show them my faith by my works!
When I saw a baby crying, I picked it up and consoled it.
When I saw a man with a broken leg, I sought to mend it.
When I found people distressed and hungry, I took them in, comforted them, and fed them.
Finally they inquired, “What does this mean?
Why are you doing this for us?”
Then I had my chance, and I preached the Gospel!’
‘Did you succeed?’ ‘My friend,’ said the missionary, ‘when I returned home on furlough, I left a church!”
Read Titus 3:8 and then ask yourself, “How well do I witness by my works?”
Show love and compassion for others today,
And do as the Savior would do;
For men may reject Him and turn from His grace
If they fail to see Jesus in you.
Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
Website 1: https://devotionals.harryschoemaker.nl
Website 2: http://bijbelplaatjes.nl
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