Christians are held to a higher standard. Unbelievers are watching our actions and listening to our words. You can’t do anytime to prevent it. Some are looking for an example to follow, but most are looking for something to criticize. When we do good deeds that will benefit the needy, it can often cause them to slander us. Peter tells you to keep your behavior excellent because one day, they will glorify God.
1 Peter 2:12
“Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
Remove the Accusations
Peter wasn’t as blunt as James, but he gets to the point. He expected every believer to keep their behavior excellent among the Gentiles. They already ridiculed Christians enough. Christians didn’t need to give them any more ammo. Peter tells the church that Gentiles will slander you whether you are doing something wrong or not. If you are acting excellent around them, it will remove many of the accusations they come up with.
Glorify God
There is another reason to keep your behavior excellent. When you do the good deeds that we are commanded to do in Scripture, it will cause the Gentile to glorify God. Let’s face it. Those who don’t know God yet are going to find ways to criticize you. Most of it will be lies because you are the one who shines a light into their dark world. As they watch your acts of compassion and service, it will blow their mind. They will recognize it either here on earth or before the Lord on judgment day.
Keep Your Behavior Excellent
It’s important to check your motives. You should never do your good deeds to impress or show up an unbeliever. They will see through the insincerity. Your good deeds should result from your gratitude to Jesus Christ and to bless the person you are serving. When this happens, you will be rewarded when you get to heaven.