Wednesday, August 30, 2023

          There can often be a conflict between one’s talk and one’s walk.  An old saying observes that we can talk the talk, but can we walk the walk?  Saying and doing can be two very different things.  We can easily make commitments and promises but acting on them and living them out can be much more different and challenging.  Someone once said that promises come with a lot of fine print.  We can easily dismiss or choose to overlook that fine print.  Peter wrote about the importance of living out our faith and showing our faith by the good things that we do.  In his own words, Peter wrote, “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves” (1 Peter 2:15-16).  Almost two thousand years ago, this apostle seemed to recognize the importance of doing good and bearing witness to Christ through what we do.  A few lessons stand out for us to see in today’s world.
            First, Peter stated that what he wrote was “God’s will.”  Such a statement should command our attention.  If God wills for us to do something, then we must do it.  He went on to write that it is God’s will for us to do good—that is for His people to do good faithfully and consistently.  There is never a shortage of good things that we can do.  And most of us would agree that the world is in desperate need of good things.  Have you ever considered that God’s plan for you on any particular day is simply to do what is good?  I previously offered you a question to ask as you start each day—what would God have me to accomplish today? The short answer would be doing something good.  Let the good that you may do bear witness to Christ and His supreme love and goodness. 
            Second, Peter teaches us that good deeds can silence ignorant talk.  We can all be guilty of speaking before thinking or saying things that might be better left unsaid.  We do not always have to say anything and everything we think.  Often, silence is the better course of action.  Based on the apostle’s words, we might be better off in many situations by responding with good actions and good deeds than saying anything at all.  In my denomination, Baptist life, we can often engage our mouths before our minds and we can find ourselves having to walk back things that would have been better left unsaid and unexpressed.  We often seem to practice “ready, fire and aim” with our words.  However, Baptists are really terrific at showing up when a disaster happens.  As I write these words, Baptist disaster relief teams are already on the ground in Florida as a hurricane comes ashore.  We tend to do a lot of good things when disasters strike and people are hurting.  More of “doing good” would bring honor to Christ and encourage an unbelieving world to look at the Lord we claim to serve.   
            Peter seems to be saying that we should let our lives be our best argument for what we believe and the One in whom we believe.  Many times, the cause of Christ would be better served if people saw our good actions more than hearing anything that we might have to say.  God has commanded us to do good things.  There is no need to wait around for further instructions.  God has issued the order to His people and His command becomes our mission.
            Third, pay little attention to “ignorant talk.”  There is little to be gained from getting into fruitless debates and arguments with other people.  Some folks crave attention.  Others look for a good fight.  And even some people try to elevate themselves at someone else’s expense.  Peter says we are to keep ourselves facing forward and to push on doing what is right and good.  We are not to let ourselves get sidelined by the chatter and noise of others.  Live above it.  Look past it.  Getting drawn into a foolish argument or conversation helps no one.  We do not stop the car every time a dog barks.  Likewise, you have no obligation to enter into someone else’s resentment or axe-grinding.   
            And fourth, Peter teaches us not to use our freedom and the good we may do as a cover or pretext for evil.  Sadly, people have proclaimed the gospel for personal profit and have fleeced others in the process.  People have made promises and commitments in the Lord’s name that they never kept (and maybe had no intention of keeping).  The apostle’s message is not to have an ulterior motive or unsavory intention for the things that we do.  Do what is good for God’s glory.  Do good for good’s sake alone.  We are to live as “God’s slaves.”  We are to do all things for His glory and so that He may gain what is due to Him alone.  Paul wrote, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).  We do good things as if we were doing them for the Lord because, ultimately, He is the One we have in mind. 
            To be a slave or servant for God means that we have no personal agenda of our own to serve.  We have no ambition other than bringing glory to Him.  We have no pursuit other than His glory.  We have left all things behind to follow Him.  Like Peter, we have dropped our nets so that we might follow Him with no entanglements or competing interests.  What could you accomplish for God today?  Start with something good.  Have a great day!  We hope to see you tonight as we gather for a host of great things.  Remember you can share our worship with others at YouTube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.