Vital signs- Thursday, June 24th, 2021

“If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:13-18‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Our conduct as Christians is an important part of our testimony as we seek to shine in these dark days.

We must live a superior lifestyle. (See 1 Peter 3:16.) We are called to be wise in our conduct and speech.

We must also display genuine love. Our logic and our lifestyle have to go together—a full mind together with a loving heart.

Finally, we must always hold onto hope; Jesus has met the deepest needs of our hearts, therefore we have hope.

• What does it mean to live a superior lifestyle? Does this mean we count ourselves better than others? Why or why not?

• How does living a superior lifestyle necessarily include displaying genuine love to others?

Display sincere love to someone near you in a practical way today.