“For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.” – 1 Peter 2:15

How do you respond when confronted by people who make outlandish statements, who know nothing about what they are talking about, and whose actions are 99% devoid of common sense?

Often we respond on the same level with a crass remark: “You idiot. How can you be so stupid?”

This verse gives guidance on how to react in a different way to those who do not know God and who act without reason or intelligence.

Notice, first, that the exhortation is not to give an eloquent response but to perform actions that all people would consider good.

Second, doing good should be a part of your daily life, not an action in response to idiotic inflammatory criticism. We should not be caught waiting to do good until the fool calls us to task.

Third, our doing good will honor the Lord and silence the fool. This means that they will be either speechless or so muzzled that nothing recognizable will be heard.

Finally, it is the will of God to do good (3 John 1:11).

Doing good must be more than a reaction to the foolishness you encounter. Doing good must be an intentional effort. Ask God each day to direct your path so that you might again and again find opportunities to do good.

The Message translation gives an appropriate modern twist: “It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society.”