He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

— Micah 6:8

14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,

15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

16 as you hold forth the word of life…

— Philippians 2:14-16a

9 Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.

— Galatians 6:9-10

11 Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.

12 Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deed.

— 1 Peter 2:11-12

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

God’s people live as exiles and aliens in this world, awaiting final deliverance to their eternal home. We do not merely survive in this “foreign” land and godless system; God wants us to make a difference. Before the Lord calls us home, we are encouraged to work diligently for good in the place where God puts us. God doesn’t want us to isolate ourselves but to engage in this godless environment with wisdom and discernment. God has purposes for us within and beyond our day-to-day existence.

Where we live and work, the people we meet, the joys we experience, and the challenges we face come by God’s design with potential to accomplish good for God’s glory. The details of life can consume our focus, but God’s greater purposes should not be ignored. Therefore while living in a fallen world, we must fasten our eyes on our powerful God as our source of hope and deliverance. God loved us enough to send His Son to save us. Nothing in this world is stronger than God, who holds His people securely in His watchful care. Life in this world will bring challenges, but God works on behalf of His people.