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“Live such good lives that…” 1 Peter 2:12

Here’s my summary of this interesting text for today. “Live your life so that even your enemies can find nothing bad to say about you.” Now there’s a challenge!! If fact the verse is even stronger than that. “Live such a good life among the unbelievers that though they accuse you of doing wrong (from their perspective!) they will see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.”

I probably said it a thousand times already and I suspect I’ll probably say it 10,000 times more before I die- My works don’t save me or make me more loved by God, BUT they do help smooth life out while I wait for Jesus to come, AND they do impact the people around me, my relationship with them and their picture of God.

My verse for today talks about “living a good life,” and, having “good works.” My response to God’s love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and assurance of eternal life WILL, I believe, change my life and my behavior. And it won’t just be a token sort of change; it will change enough that even unbelievers and skeptics will look and have to admit that there is something different about me. That’s what I want while I’m waiting, in full assurance, for Jesus to come!

When the Roman soldier saw what Jesus was doing as He hung on the cross, and heard what He said as He forgave His accusers and cared for His mother, his conclusion was, “Surely this must be the Son of God.” My verse says, “they will see your good works and glorify God.” That’s what Jesus’ life did; that’s what I want my life to do as well.

Have a great day living the “good life” complete with “good deeds,” SO THAT God may be glorified, even by the “enemy,”

Pastor Rich

Quote for the day: “Kindness is a language the blind can see and the deaf can hear.”

PS Union College board meets today. Be kind to all the “old” looking visitors on campus! They are the ones responsible to ensure the greatness of Union College continues, and they are significant donors from whom we all have benefited!!

PPS Mid America Union Youth Directors are still here for a couple more days looking for summer camp ministry team members. They will be providing ice cream treat today at lunch—FOR FREE!! Stop by and enjoy it, and learn more about summer ministry opportunities.