How would you describe yourself in just one word? How would your friends describe you in one word? Even more, how would your coworkers describe you in one word? We may not think about this often, but we all have a reputation among our friends, family members, coworkers, and even acquaintances. The question is, what are we known for? Because we are followers of Christ, the most significant thing we can be known for on this earth is that we follow Christ.
Peter called believers in 1 Peter 2 to live honorable lives and point others to Christ in the midst of the chaos all around them. In this chapter, he wrote, “Keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls” (verse 11.) Next, he explained what it looks like to keep away from worldly desires. He wrote, “Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then, even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when He judges the world” (verse 12). This instruction from Peter is a call to live such reputable and honorable lives that even if we are accused of wrongdoing, our “honorable behavior” will speak for itself. That is why Peter later wrote, “It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you” (verse 15). Living in such a way that our words and actions point straight to God means living with integrity and speaking and living in a way that pleases Him. It means representing Him in such a way that people want to draw closer to God, not further from Him. Living "honorable lives" is God's will for each one of our lives.
What about you? Are you living the honorable life that Peter describes in the Scripture that we read today? Is there anything you need to stop doing in order to honor God through your words or actions? Is there something you need to begin doing in order to bring honor to Him by the way you live? It is time for each one of us to live honorable lives so that we can please Him in all we do and so that others may see Him through us.
Take some time to evaluate your words and actions over this last week. What went well? What needs improvement? Did you reflect Christ to the people around you by the way you lived your life? After reflecting on your actions and words over the last week, pinpoint one thing you can start doing and one thing you can stop doing in order to better reflect Christ to those around you.
So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.
5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say,
“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
chosen for great honor,
and anyone who trusts in him
will never be disgraced.”
7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.”
8 And,
“He is the stone that makes people stumble,
the rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
10 “Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God’s mercy.”
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.
15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.
