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Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” — 1 Peter 2:12

Reading: 1 Peter 2:9-17

Reflection:

The book of 1 Peter gives us a thorough picture of how one of the closest companions of our Lord encouraged churches who were being grieved by various trials (1:6)Throughout his letter, Peter focuses on how Christians conduct themselves in their daily lives in the midst of these trials. He encourages Christians to think of themselves as sojourners and exiles (v. 11), but with a commission as a royal priesthood, a holy nation . . . [to] proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (v. 9).

How are they to fulfill this commission while being grieved by various trials in a hostile world? Really, the entirety of 1 Peter is the answer to this question (I encourage you, nay, beg you to read through the whole letter!), but in chapter 2, we get an introduction to all the instruction that will follow. Peter exhorts Christians to: 1) abstain from the passions of the flesh (v. 11) and 2) keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable (v. 12)I want to focus on the second point.

Why are Christians to conduct themselves before non-Christians in a way that is honorable? So that . . . they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation (v. 12). Most commentators view this verse as having to do with conversion. In other words, observing the good deeds of Christians contributes toward non-Christians coming to Christ and glorifying God when Christ returns. 

Similarly, Jesus says to let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16; if Peter were my student, I would advise him to cite his sources!). One of the key ways we proclaim God’s excellencies to the world is through the manner of our daily conduct before the world.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it might seem that Christians have less public witness than ever; how can our witness be public when we are in isolation from the world? To an extent, this is true, but there is one arena where our lives are still remarkably public: the internet. As the world turns to the internet as essentially the way to find some human connection in isolation, Christians’ public presence online will be more scrutinized than ever before. Because the internet is really all the world is able to see of us right now, I would like to urge us all to consider how our online conduct may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (v. 9).

Response:

  1. Consider how to keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable on social media. How might your posts, comments, and likes either contribute to or hinder non-Christians from coming to glorify God? Do your posts exhibit the ways of Christ to the world? Do you view social media as another arena in which to proclaim God’s excellencies and do honorable deeds?

  2. Consider how to keep your media and entertainment consumption honorable. How do the things you read and watch affect your feelings and thoughts about your non-Christian neighbors? Do these things help you to cultivate love and respect for your neighbor? Do they contribute toward growth in Christlikeness?

  3. Consider what the Bible teaches about honorable conduct. Really the whole Bible applies here, but you could start with the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24), or perhaps Philippians 4:8: [W]hatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

2 Comments

This is excellent, timely encouragement presented in context with an understanding of the times. Thank you!

Thanks for the reminder!

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