Craig T. Owens

Have you ever had a really bad job? How about a job that you said, “This job is killing me”? They probably weren’t as bad as the job Ernest Shackleton advertised for:

“Men Wanted for Hazardous Journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.”

And probably not as bad as the help wanted ad for the Pony Express:

“Wanted. Young, skinny, wiry fellow not over 18. Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred.”

Several times in his letter to Christians, the Apostle Peter tells Christians that living in a Christ-honoring way on earth is going to be tough. So are Christians just supposed to grin and bear it? Are they just supposed to slap a smile on their face and hang on until the end?

In a word: No! 

Instead, Peter points out seven ways Christians can live so that they will point others to Jesus.

1. Live in reverent fear of an All-Righteous Judge who doesn’t miss a thing we say or do (1:17)
2. Live such good lives that consistently glorify God (2:12)
3. Live as the best of citizens, respecting those in leadership (2:13-17)
4. Live as good employees (2:18)
5. Live as Christ’s ambassadors by following the example of Jesus (2:19-24)
6. Live with your spouse faithfully and submissively (3:1, 7)
7. Live focused on eternity (4:1-2)

(you can read all the passages from 1 Peter here)

When the first Christians lived this way, everyone spoke well of them and held them in high regard because Christians…

• Transformed life for women
• Built the first hospitals
• Founded the first free medical dispensaries
• Established orphanages and homes for the aged
• Made life better for children
• Brought a dignity to marriage

“Anyone who asks the question: ‘What has Christianity done for the world?’ has delivered himself into a Christian debater’s hands. There is nothing in history so unanswerably demonstrable as the transforming power of Christianity and of Christ on the individual life and on the life of society.” —William Barclay 

Bottom line—We need to live so that people will say “I ♥ those Christians!”

If you’ve missed any messages in this series, you may find the complete list by clicking here.