“Conduct yourselves properly (honorably, righteously) among the Gentiles, so that, although they may slander you as evildoers, [yet] they may by witnessing your good deeds [come to] glorify God in the day of inspection [when God shall look upon you wanderers as a pastor or shepherd looks over his flock].”
I Peter 2:12 Amplified
It’s such a well worn cliché that I hesitate to even write it.
It’s one we’ve all heard:
“Actions speak louder than words.”
In the verse above we read that our good works can actually silence the critics.
We can refute their words of slander with good deeds.
You may hear their words, but let them see your deeds!
Ephesians 2:10 has this to say about ‘works’:
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Every so often you can read a “war of words” in the editorial page of the local paper or even between ‘friends’ on Facebook concerning this-or-that theological doctrine.
More often than not, it is a fruitless endeavor.
I cannot argue that there are times when a well spoken word will accomplish much.
The Bible has much to say about this.
But who can deny the impact of good works done in Christ’s name when no one is simultaneously working to build (or defend)their own name.
Can you imagine for a moment what it might be like if every slanderous word directed at a believer was countered, not with an equally slanderous word but, by a good work?
Might that draw a little bit of attention to the cause of Christ?
Don’t match them word-for-word; instead meet their words with good works!
Overcome evil with good!
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