Doing Good

With the dawn of 24-hour news it’s easy to get carried away emotionally by the injustices that we see and to become pessimistic, frustrated, and angry. For many, aggression seams justified in order to bring about the perceived needed change.

No one can deny that we live in a day and age where a *spirit of lawlessness is penetrating every level of our society. The rioting, vandalism, violent hostility, and murder will never produce societal peace and harmony, only prolonged pain and injustice.

In part, these are the actions of misguided individuals who are angry, wounded, empty of self-worth, and alienated from God. It would be grievous to me to think that anyone naming Christ as Lord would ever consider or be involved in such activities!

You may be asking yourself, what can we do to bring healing to a wounded world and extend the kingdom of God? The apostle Peter speaks to this issue forcefully and gives us clear direction. “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. . . Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 2:15, 17 ESV)

“Peter knew that our conduct is a way to defend the gospel. He knew that those who never read the Bible will read our lives, so it is by doing good that we put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” –Commentaries by David Guzik

The greatest reformers of history understood the admonition to do good, ?-g?-tho-poi-e'-o “to do something which profits others, to be a good help to someone, to do someone a favor, to benefit.” (Strong’sG15) These men and women were people of great faith, passion, and courage who directed their efforts in ways that brought about kingdom principles that positively impacted society. To right the wrongs of our world we must reach the individual first if we hope to reach the masses. It is doing good and honoring others that births hope and leads to meaningful change and blessing. (see 1 Peter 3:10-12)

*Matthew 24:12; 1 John 3:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:7