Read 1 Peter 2:9-12
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.” (v 12)
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.” (v 12)
Some Thoughts…
God has chosen me (just as He has chosen all who will believe) to be His…I find my heritage, my history, my meaning in His choosing. Now I’m part of an alien nation…told to make my temporary home here while we “await the day” (see V 9, 12). But while I wait for the train to take me home, I live “among the nations” – in the middle of people who have either chosen to reject their true identity in Christ or who have yet to see past this flesh and bone existence to find Jesus to be their REAL Life…
I live as an “alien priest” among the “ethos” of fleshly-minded nations of people; past, present and future. So, while I’m here, God wants me to offer some spiritual sacrifices (see v 5).
1) Declare the praises of the One who called me and chose me out of the ethos of darkness into the alien land of His light (v9) – So I will use my words like a town crier announcing the coming of my King!
2) Abstain from some of the pleasures in life that trigger desires in me that will seduce me to exchange my heavenly green card for worldly citizenship papers (v11). – So I will choose to say “no” when many say “yes”. I’ll determine to be a fool in my innocence while many would see the path to maturity as a walk on the wild-side.
3) Live a good life (v12) – I will attempt to live a simple life that just might be Beautiful, vivacious, win-some, and valuable to this world that is not my home…So that when those who stumble over the Rock that has become my foundation; when their guilt has turned to resentment and hatred and they can only see me as criminal, or closed minded, and just WRONG… That in those moments, as they point the finger of accusation at me, they may only find a hand of loving helpfulness attempting to treat their wounds that they suffered in their fall as they stumbled over Jesus. All in the hope that some may stop their slander and see what we’ve seen as we’ve been adopted by God the Father…and they will in turn exchange their hate speech for praise and eternal conversations.
A Prayer…
Father, Please keep alive in me a home-sickness for heaven so that my heart will be warm with Your grace and Your beauty so that when a watching world looks closely they see You. Amen