Goody-goody
GOODY-GOODY
Read 1 Peter 3:12-17.
Jon went to get a glass of milk from the refrigerator. “Wow, what a day!” he said.
“What happened?” asked Mom.
“During recess a bunch of boys were running around the gym, and Nate King asked if he could run with them. Well, Nate tripped and fell flat on his face the way he does a lot. You should’ve heard the boys tease him! I saw he was hurt. So I went over, helped him to his feet, and went to the nurse’s office with him. When I came out again, the kids started calling me a goody-goody.”
“Then what?” Mom asked.
“After school two boys followed me, calling me Mr. Goody-Goody all the way home.”
“It’s hard to be called names for being good, isn’t it?” asked Mom.
Jon nodded. “Yeah. It sure is.”
“You have to remember, Jon,” Mom told him, “as a Christian it’s your responsibility to be kind to others. But you can’t expect everyone to understand. The apostle Paul wrote that the gospel seems foolish to those who don’t believe in Christ. Because unbelievers choose to think the Bible is foolish, they may think you are foolish for following God’s guidelines.”
Jon nodded. “Those kids didn’t understand why I should be friendly to Nate. But I’m glad I was. Nate needs friends!”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is it hard for your non-Christian friends to understand why you won’t join them in cheating, swearing, or treating someone unkindly? Do you get teased for doing what is right? God says it’s better to suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing. Continue to follow His way, even when your friends don’t understand.
TO MEMORIZE:
The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18
GOD’S WAY IS BEST.
From the book
