Resilient: Powerful Hope in a Dangerous WorldSample

The way you live your life matters. Imagine if you went to a restaurant that claimed to have “The Best Food in the City.” You make a reservation, mark your calendar, and anticipate that first delicious bite.

You begin to receive daily text messages from the restaurant reminding you that you’re about to experience “The Best Food in the City.” Finally, the big day arrives. You check in at the host stand and finally sit at the table. A big sign on the back wall says, “The Best Food in the City.” You’re excited…but something is a little off. As you breathe deeply, expecting a delicious aroma, you notice the air is slightly stale.

You place your order, skip the bread basket, and after 20 more minutes of anticipation, the waiter brings your meal. You are ready. You can’t wait to experience “The Best Food in the City.”

You pick up your fork, dig in, and taste. But something is off. Maybe the sauce has spoiled. Maybe the waiter brought the wrong food. You take a second bite, but this time it’s confirmed – the food is disgusting.

You flag down the waiter, who greets you with a big smile…maybe a little too big. You explain the problem, but the waiter interrupts you. “Your dinner can’t be bad. This is THE BEST FOOD IN THE CITY.”

It begins to hit you. This restaurant makes empty claims, and they lack genuine quality.

In 1 Peter 3:2, we see that God intends for the conduct of our lives to be honorable. We see that genuine Christianity is more than making great claims about the saving power of Jesus. Real Christianity is about living out the truth we claim to believe. Our faith should reveal the qualities of Jesus and the beauty of the Gospel.

In Philippians 1:27, the Bible teaches us to live in a way that honors the message of Jesus. Genuine faith is powerful. It leads us to greater satisfaction and joy. It also pushes others to seek Jesus in a genuine way.

Take some time in prayer.

Reflection Questions

1. What are some things you find beautiful about the Gospel?
2. Do you see these things in your own life?
3. What about your conduct needs to change to honor the Gospel's beauty with your life?
4. Where do you need to ask for God’s help?