Win Them Over

 1 Peter 2:12

" Live such good lives among pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us"

Studying the other day and this verse stuck out to me because it's amazing how the scripture states "though they accuse you of doing wrong". 

We know that the verse wasn't encouraging those people who were doing wrong, but those that were doing right. It all goes to show you that even back then when a person chose to stand alone and do what was right it can be obscure by the world as wrong. 

You see that in our everyday life even in today's society that lifting up a standard is almost looked down on. 

For instance, abstaining from sex until marriage, not drinking, not smoking, not partying, and doing anything for Christ at this age in time is considered 'boring'. 

I remember in my young days that trying to be set aside and lift up the Word of God was 'doing too much'. 

Even now that I am older, I am seeing so many things that are trying to be normalized that are so morally wrong. 

No, it is not okay for a woman or a man to have more than one sexual partner. That is called adultery. 

No, it is not okay for us to indulge in drinking or smoking frequently. That is called debauchery and being controlled by the flesh. 

No, it is not okay for us to talk poorly about our brothers or sisters. That is being a slanderer. 

No, it is not okay to say hurtful things to others. That is called having hate and strife in our hearts. 

 No, it is not okay for us to have sex before marriage. That is called fornication. 

No, it is not okay for us to be attracted to those who are of the same gender as us. That is a perversion. 

There are many other things that I can list, but these are things that one chooses to abstain from that makes them look like they are in the wrong. 

But, they are not. 

I want to encourage you today to continue standing against the pressure that wants to make you fold to immortality.

Continue seeking God. Praying. Fasting. Living a life of obedience and reverence to Him. 

Continue doing so, for even though they would count what you do as 'weird', absurd, stupid, or 'too much, it is what will have a reward waiting for you in the end. 

Keep doing it because it is the right thing to do.

Don't let them blur the lines. 

What I love about continuing on this path, is not only the reward that happens in the end but the fact that it also wins them over. 

Yes!

In the end, they-meaning your friends, family, or strangers, will see why you were living the way you were living. They would see why you prayed that way, fasted that way, and acted that way. 

And like the scripture says, they would not only see what was actually good deeds in the end, but they themselves will glorify God. 

They would also be won over and serve the true living God. 

I don't know about you, but I don't mind walking the lonely path of righteousness, once it makes the pathway clear for my brothers and sisters to follow. 

Not all are going to agree with your way of living now, but soon. 

They're not going to get why you made that decision, but they will soon. 

The scripture says that Heaven rejoices over one soul. (Luke 15:7)

Isn't that what it all boils down to?

Our lives being a testimony for those that are lost to be saved too?

Our family and friends coming to know Jesus Christ the way that we do.

I encourage you today, don't slacken up on the reins. Don't stop living a steadfast life for Christ. 

Someone is always watching you. They're seeing how you hold up to see if they can too. 

Your life is going to be the testimony that wins them over. 

~TheRay