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What Manner of Persons? Tim Smelser We all realize (or at least we should) that the Christian life is a new and different way of life. We understand that now as Christians we are to cease from engaging ourselves in worldly activities. Christ is now the focal point of our lives. With this in mind, we can better understand the type of persons Peter was talking about in 2 Peter 3:11-12. "What manner of persons ought ye to be, in all holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God . . . " We also need to realize that God is not the only one watching what we do. As Christians we are seen as lights of the world and we need to behave properly so as to set a proper example. Matthew 5:14-16 teaches, "You are the light of the world; A city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Sometimes I fear we take Christ's perfection for granted. We expect sinlessness from Him because it was He who had to save us from our sinfulness. We fail, however, to see that He now expects the same from us. What would we say about our Saviour if He neglected opportunities to assemble and worship, or wore immodest clothing, or attended functions He ought not? We are guilty of double standards if we would disapprove of Christ doing these things but yet would engage in them ourselves. We need to step back and
examine our habits, actions and lifestyle characteristics and ask
ourselves what Christ must think seeing these things. What does
the world think of us? Do our friends and neighbors even know we
are Christians? We set an example in everything we do and
say. With these thoughts in mind let us heed the words of Peter, "What
manner of persons ought ye to be?" |
