My dad used to always tell me that being a good person was more important than grades. I wish I hadn’t taken that so literally looking back. There were more than a few occasions we would have to have hard talks about my grades. I was a little too social for high school. I was, though, a good person…for the most part.
I think we find it hard to really brag on ourselves. We tend to want to stay mostly humble and not take credit. Our job is to be a problem solver and to connect people to our products or ideas, but I’ve learned throughout the years that sometimes if you don’t tell people what you do then they’ll never know.
I’m not talking about bragging, I’m just stating that people only know what they know. Think about that as we look at 1 Peter 3:13-18. In this passage we hear the question: “who is going to do you harm if you are eager to do good?” (1 Peter 3:13)
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
When I look back at life, and I think about the lesson my dad was trying to teach me, I am reminded that my intentions are to do good. You never know who is watching. I’ll tell you a story about a principal friend of mine from Jamestown, TN. He pulled me aside one day and asked me if I was a believer in Jesus Christ. I told him yes, very much so. He said that he could just tell from my actions and from seeing me interact with his students all these years that he saw something in me but he never heard me mention Jesus and he wanted to see if his thinking was right. He said that he and his faculty were in a meeting discussing how outside influences impact the students, and that people like me were great influences not because we try to be but because we just are.
I’m now prepared to talk to people about my story if asked. I’ve know about Jesus for a long time, but I’m more involved now because my walk with the Lord is growing. I haven’t always been comfortable having those conversations, but I’ve grown in my relationship and I think there’s a reason. Maybe people have always seen the light in me; maybe I haven’t seen it myself.
As I read through these verses I am reminded of that story from my friend in Jamestown. The verses give me hope that people not only see my light but ask me about it. My prayer every morning is for God to use me in a way that draws people closer to him. I always tell God that I don’t know what that looks like but whatever is His will, I’m all in.
So I didn’t tell that story so you will think oh Kevin is so great or that I am bragging on myself. That story is to remind us that we are being watched. We are watched by our peers, our kids, our neighbors, our church family. I didn’t know this principal was watching me all these years; I’m glad he was. It gave me the reassurance we all need from time to time, and it reminded me that I am to serve our Lord with a gentleness and respect. Like I said earlier…whatever His will, I’m all in.
