Have you ever asked someone who doesn’t attend church or even believe in God why? Why do they stay away? How is it possible that they don’t believe in a God that is so profoundly obvious to all of creation (Romans 1:20)? There are probably as many reasons as there are people, but I know one very clear, understandable reason.
Us.
We say one thing with our lips, but our actions say something else. We faithfully attend church or Life Group, but our time at home or at work reveals our true heart. We read the Bible, but fail to allow the Holy Spirit to use His Word to change us.
The way we behave doesn’t always match what we say we believe. We are too often, I’m sorry to say, hypocrites. 1 Peter chapter 2 contains several calls to “proper behavior”. Such behavior protects us and honors God and others. It also draws others to God.
Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. – 1 Peter 2:12 (NLT)
For God’s glory I don’t want to be ignorant: I want to understand my faith more and more. But I also want my life to reflect my faith more and more, and I want my heart to be changed at a deep, eternal level. I want to run in such a way as to get the prize!
Only then can my life have a chance to draw others to Him, so that “they will give honor to God”. God, help my behavior to be consistent with my beliefs!
