- “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,
- When they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.”
1 Peter 3:1,2 (NKJV)
• You can win other people to Christ through your conduct, that is, your behaviour and character. - A number of believers preach and witness the Word to others, but the response rate has been low because they lack good conduct.
- Your conduct preaches to other people than what you preach with your mouth.
- Apostle Peter admonishes women who have unbelieving husbands to behave themselves; that through their godly behaviour, chaste conduct, and fear [reverent lives], their husbands may be won to Christ (1 Peter 3:2).
- In the real sense of the word, women are not the only ones who should have good conduct—men and women alike.
• Good conduct is becoming a strange thing among Christians today—a lot of professed Christians lack godly character.
- “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lust which war against the soul,
- HAVING YOUR CONDUCT HONOURABLE AMONG THE GENTILES, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
1 Peter 2:11,12 (NKJV)
- Your behaviour as a Christian speaks more about Christ than any other thing, than the word you preach.
- Are you repelling people from Christ through your conduct, or you are attracting people to Him?
• In the Bible, Ruth a Moabites wanted to serve the God of Naomi, her mother-in-law. She followed her to the land of Judah because she saw something in her God.
- We can deduce from the story: If Naomi had not been practical about her serving God, Ruth might not be moved to serve her God.
- “And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.
- But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, AND YOUR GOD, MY GOD.”
Ruth 1:8,16 (NKJV)
• Live your life to please God, and live to attract others to Christ.
- Early disciples were called Christians in Antioch of Syria because the people saw Christ in them (Acts 11:25,26).
- Can people see Christ in you—through your conduct?
- Would the people around you follow you to your church, to serve your God because of your conduct? Have they seen Christ in you?
- Can the people around you see Christ in you: In the neighborhood where you live, the place where you work, and wherever?
- In other words, Would the people around you accept Christ as their Saviour and Lord because of your conduct?
- “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill that cannot be hidden.
- “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
- “LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.”
Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV)
• Your good works, your good conduct and behaviour, give glory to God.
- Can the people who are watching you glorify God because of your chaste conduct—your good deeds?
- Live your life to please Christ. Your life preaches Christ than your words.
“And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”
2 Corinthians 5:15 (NKJV)
• You will not be a disappointment to God and His kingdom in Jesus’ name.
Peace!