REMEMBER THE HEATHEN!
Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
Nehemiah 5:9
The world is watching us and we ought to walk circumspectly, because the days are evil. Abram and Lot must be ware of strife, because the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwell in the land, and “we be brethren” (Gen. 13:7, 8). David’s sin gave occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme (II Sam. 12:14). Paul wrote to Jews, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you” (Rom. 2:24). Young women are to be taught to live right, “that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:5). Peter exhorts believers to a manner of life honest among the Gentiles, “That whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (I Pt. 2:12).
The Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Gentiles live all around us. Lest we bring reproach on the cause we represent we do well to deny ourselves that which may not hurt us but would give occasion to the adversary to blaspheme. The fact that we are free from the law gives us no grounds for foolishly running into license. And God help Abram and Lot and their herdmen to behave before the heathen, for “we be brethren.”