1 Peter Chapter 2 verse 12 ( NIV)
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 chapter 2 verses 15-17 (NIV)
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor.
Peter teaches his readers that their testimony should be a life led as an example, just as much as the words that we say. He learned that from experience, and the hard way at that. After all didn’t he promise he would die with Him if necessary. We know the story, and Peter learned his lesson. Not only does he teach us that we need to set an example in the way that we live, but also in the way that we treat others – showing respect to all, and being obedient and ready to do all that God asks of us. He also tells his readers that they should honour the emperor. That would be the same emperor, Nero, who persecuted Christians in Rome, and who historians tell us was responsible for ordering the crucifiction of Peter.
We read in the Gospel of Luke that Jesus taught that we should love our enemies and do good to those that hate us. Peter was now putting that into practice.
We know that it’s not an easy thing to do, and we may have on occasion not been able to carry it through. Like Peter we may have let the Lord down on this issue. But also like Peter, we can be forgiven for our sin of disobedience, learn from our mistake and start again. We might never know what an impact that will make in someone’s life, even if they don’t like us. But God does, and it’s Him we want to honour.
Dear Lord,
Thank You that we can be forgiven for every sin and every mistake. Help me to grow and learn from them, even yet, so that my life brings You the glory and honour. I ask in the name of Jesus, the One who makes it possible. Amen.