Good lives lived in a Christian bubble won’t yield the fruit God has planned. His glory is meant to be displayed through the lives of His children in our broken world.

Michael Frost, in his book, Surprise the World, talks about living “questionable lives.” That is, living in such a way that nonbelievers will ask questions, wanting to know what’s up. The apostle Peter, writing to a heavily persecuted church, describes the effect:

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God . . . (1 Peter 2:12).

Believers through history have exemplified such radical, sacrificial goodness that people took note and ended up following Jesus.

To name a few:

• In the thirteenth century, believers cared for people who were dying of the black plague.
• William Wilberforce laborered for years to stop the slave trade in England.
• In many places around the world, the first schools and hospitals were started by Christians.

Imagine how the U.S. church would be viewed if believers were known more for their goodness, than they are known for what they vehemently oppose? We may not be written up in history books, but we can still make a difference in someone’s eternity when we choose to live lives that embody the goodness of God.

Is your life “questionable”? Has anyone ever asked you why you live or behave the way you do?