Day 28 (Wednesday): 1 Peter 2:11-15, 3:14-16
Today’s Passage
Read the passage – 1 Peter 2:11-15, 3:14-16
Peter exhorted his readers to live exemplary lives before non-Christians so that seeing our righteous living they would glorify God when he comes to judge. Part of our witness as Christians is our good conduct, and when we fail at this people question us.
- When you read this passage what stands out to you?
- What might you need to work on in your own life?
Prayer
- Break the chains of doubt, fear, and unbelief in lives.
- Ask God to help you with your daily living. Thank Jesus that he has given us his righteousness and forgiven us. Ask him that you live empowered by the Spirit to do what is right. Ask that churches in their witness would be marked by living in a way that is worthy of Jesus.
Go Deeper
David Walls and Max Anders, I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 32–33.
A sense of urgency marks this section. It is important that we take very seriously our identity in Christ and begin to demonstrate spiritual growth through our daily lives. Aliens and strangers in the world repeat the opening address of this letter (see 1:1). It reminds us that as temporary residents in this world we should show a certain detachment from the world. A believer should abstain from certain behaviors. The word suggests a holding back, a walking away from, or an avoidance of what are described as sinful desires, which war against your soul. “Sinful desires” is best understood as “strong desires motivated by selfishness.” Some desires are not wrong or sinful in themselves. These become wrong when the believer attempts to satisfy those desires in ways that are contrary to God’s Word. Other desires are wrong “out of the gate” and are to be avoided. (For a more detailed description of what these desires are, see 1 Pet. 4:3 and Gal. 5:19–21.)
Why should Christians abstain from such things? Because these actions mount a full military campaign against our spiritual vitality and growth. Consistently satisfying our desires in a manner contrary to the Word of God or consistently giving in to sinful desires will ultimately tear down the believer. To entertain them may appear attractive and harmless, but they are enemies which inflict harm on the Christian’s soul, making us spiritually weak and ineffective.
The opposite result is described in verse 12. This verse makes it apparent that the early church was under immense scrutiny and criticism. Rumors and false accusations abounded. Christians were accused of being disloyal to the state, or Caesar. They were accused of purposely hurting the business enterprises of the city and of being godless people because they did not own idols. Peter advised them not to try to defend themselves or to argue with words against their accusers. Instead, they should take a positive approach and demonstrate a different quality of life that non-believers will observe.
This verb refers to more than a casual observation of a person’s behavior. It means “to watch over a long period of time.” It suggests making mental notes and reviewing them. Our behavior over the long haul should be so positive that it will dismantle the negative accusations. That’s why Peter wrote, Live such good lives among the pagans (italics added). That kind of lifestyle testimony may be the argument that wins the critic to Christ: they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Some interpreters suggest that this day of visitation refers to the judgment of God as the second coming of Christ. In light of the context, this seems unlikely. Peter’s desire was for his readers to witness positively to nonbelievers through their lives, so it is more likely that the “day of visitation” refers to the time of their salvation, when God visits them with mercy and grace.
