RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A DEFENSE

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?  I Peter 3:13

REFERENCE
I Peter 3:13-17

In a world where people are given to doing evil, where evil looks right, apostle Peter here admonishes believers to be followers of what is good. This simple verse tucked in here is so powerful. The promise of God here is that a man who has devoted himself to following after good or doing good will need not be afraid of any harm coming to him. A good man need not fear any terror or horror of Satan.

One way to stand victorious against the devil is by doing what is right because doing the wrong things opens the door for evil to operate in your life. The devil himself testified that he could not assail Job, because God had built a hedge around him and his properties. Earlier, God had described Job as an upright man who eschewed evil.

Likewise, doing right stops the mouth of the devil from laying a charge against you before God; rather righteousness will protect you wherever you find yourself. Therefore, be committed to doing right in your office, neighborhood, with your relationships, at traffic lights, and especially when no one is looking. Just the way God sees your good works and stands up for you, the devil also watches to see how sin or evil deeds can give him an access into your life.

You may think that doing good does not always pay, and sometimes it may look like you are penalized for doing good. But, you will never know how much evil you are spared from, by doing good. You cannot imagine the harm you avoid, by doing good. Sometimes, it may just be the stability and peace it brings to your home and family.

Doing good has both earthly and eternal rewards. Here on earth, you will have people trust you with their matters that are sensitive or that require integrity…this may be a business and sometimes, things that can give financial opportunities or resources. Why? Because “credibility attracts credit (money).”

Eternally, you are bound for heaven; not that your good works takes you to heaven without Christ, but a commitment to do good in Christ leads you there (Revelation 14:13). Another way to look at this is: “Let whoever is mindful of his future seeds (children), be mindful of the seeds (deeds) he sows today!

SCRIPTURE PHOTO

ADDITIONAL STUDY
Proverbs 10:25, 11:3-8 & Romans 8:33

PRAYER POINTS

Ask for the grace to follow after what is good in your everyday life. Also that you will not be a vessel through which the devil will fulfill his evil agenda, rather, that you will be a Christian that others will turn to when they need to entrust their resources to someone with credibility.