“ 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.”
1 Peter 2:12 (NIV)
The Words in this chapter grip me.
Not only does Peter challenge us to holy living, he reminds us that it is possible to live in such a way, because of who we are in Christ Jesus.
We are surrounded by pagans, in our schools, in our neighbourhoods, in our workplaces, and in our families. We are called to live in a different way than they live, constantly fighting our sinful desires, and constantly living good lives, knowing that our holy lives will bring accusation and trouble from pagans now, but when our Lord returns the same people who accuse us now will glorify God for how we lived our lives among them.
Think of a person who despises you because of Christ, who mocks you and laughs at your faith.
Then read 1 Peter 2:12 and realize that all of this will change on the Day the Lord returns, that in some mysterious way – that same person who opposes you now will glorify God because of how you lived your life of faith. They will see your deeds differently in the light of the Lord’s Glorious Presence.
Instead of being irritated by you sharing your faith, they will recognize that you loved them and tried to bring them to Christ.
Instead of mocking you for your weakness, they will see that what they thought was weakness was actually meekness.
Instead of hating you for your stand on sinful living, they will see how your holiness preserved their lives by staying God’s hand of judgment.
And they won’t praise you, for they will recognize that it wasn’t you, it was God working in you.
They will glorify God.
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