1 Peter 2:11-12—Live with moral and ethical excellence

Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:11-12

Beloved…

What a comforting, inclusive name for a man of God to use in addressing believers. This is not a term of aggressive intolerance or religious bigotry. Even when this term of endearment is used in correction or warning, it indicates a depth of affection that desires nothing but the best for those to whom it refers.

I urge you…

Be alert. What is about to be said is of utmost importance. Take heed; prepare to take appropriate action.

… as aliens and strangers…

Remember who you are. You are in the world, but you are not of the world. You have your citizenship in Heaven and ultimately answer to God.

… abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.

Your job is to stay away from and restrain yourself from indulging in fleshly cravings. You’ll recognize them because they arise in a fierce opposition to the stability and purposeful godly devotion of your mind, will, and emotions. Carnal lusts seek to control your thoughts, decisions, and behaviors with a warlike persistence.

Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles…

You never know who’s watching what you’re doing. There’s a good chance that among your acquaintances, co-workers, relatives, neighbors, and friends is someone who will only see the gospel through your life. You are a carrier of the presence of God; you are an ambassador of Jesus Christ; you are a letter from God read by men.

Again. You never know who’s watching. When I was a young believer, not even a year old in the Lord, I was returning to my dorm from the attached men’s dorm right after my first love broke up with me. Heartbroken, I walked across the lobby of the men’s dorm, lost in pain and unaware of any eyes upon me. A year later I ran into a young man who lived in that dorm, now saved and living for Jesus. He told me something that revolutionized the way I viewed the impact of my day-to-day life.

He told me, “A year ago, I was sitting at the front desk of the dorm when you walked across the lobby, heading toward the women’s dorm. The light streamed in from the windows above the door and landed on you. I knew you had recently become a Christian—everyone in the dorm knew when your life changed—and it hit me: I needed what you had—a relationship with God. I prayed, and here I am—serving Jesus!”

…so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers…

Note: Peter did not write “If they slander you”; he said they would slander you. Why? Because they don’t understand the light of Christ that shines from your life and choices. Very likely, your life makes them uncomfortable, therefore they feel compelled to put you down; they feel obligated to find your flaws; they feel driven to search for inconsistencies in your life.

… they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them…

How you live your life and what you choose to do with your day-to-day behaviors is huge. People watch you, especially if they know you are a Christian. Do they see excellence in your moral choices and integrity? Do they observe the fruit of the Spirit manifested in your interactions with others? What do people see and hear emanating from you when you aren’t thinking about your “witness”? Are you consistent in character whether you think someone is watching you or not?

… glorify God in the day of visitation.

Who will glorify God in the day of visitation? Those who, because of your life, got hungry and thirsty enough for Christ. Those who, because of the goodness they observed in your behavior, decided they wanted in on a relationship with God. This is your calling: Live your life for Christ; live every minute as a man or woman of God; live knowing that conviction may be touching someone right now just because of the way you live your life—on purpose and tuned in to the Holy Spirit.

Dorothy

You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men…2 Corinthians 3:2

© 2015, Dorothy Frick