A Royal Preisthood

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Peter 2:9-12

We all want to live in a better world. The reality is that, with Jesus, we have the best of everything, this world and the eternal world. There is no one who can ever do something better for us.

When Peter wrote to persecuted believers, he advised them to keep their conducts honorable by doing good deeds that will ultimately bring glory to God. In other words, we can make the world a better place to live, through our own actions. Think of the differences that Christlike deeds of love, mercy, forgiveness, justice, and peace would make in our world.

Our places of work, our neighborhoods, our schools would all be better if we concisely make an effort to help in Christlike ways.

We can’t change the entire world singlehandedly, but by God’s grace we can let the difference Christ has made in us make a difference in the world around us.

Everyone can do something to make the world better – we can let Christ shine through us.

Our Daily Bread – March 29, 2014