1 Peter - Following Jesus Sample

We have been chosen by God to declare his praises (2:9). We need to speak of his grace in Christ. But how we live matters too. Our lives can draw people to listen to our words about Jesus, or they can put people off. Yes, our lives really matter. Peter wants his friends to be very clear on this.

• First, what does Peter urge his dear friends to say no to and why (v. 11)?

Peter is very realistic! He knows believers are tempted to behave just like everyone else. But we are ‘foreigners and exiles’ here in this world. We need to look different.

We need to say no to our sinful desires. That is what ‘abstain’ means. Giving in to these desires can ruin us spiritually. These desires ‘wage war’ against our souls. We need to take this very seriously.

• Then secondly, what does Peter call on these Christians to do and why (v.12)?

Peter wants the lives of his friends to be full of ‘good deeds’ which are obvious to everyone. He wants their good deeds to speak so loudly that they flatly contradict those who accuse Christians of doing wrong.

Peter’s vision is bigger than that though. He doesn’t just want pagans to stop making false accusations against God’s people. Peter wants these unbelievers to begin to glorify God themselves (v. 12). Peter wants these outsiders to be safe on the last day when God ‘visits’ his world in judgement. Christians are to declare God’s praises but Peter wants unbelievers to come to worship him too.

We need to be careful here! It is possible for believers to live good lives but not be amongst pagans. Christians can retreat into a kind of Christian ghetto. Our lives may be full of good deeds but no unbelievers ever get to see them.

It is also possible for Christians to be out amongst the pagans but not be living good lives. It is possible to be thoroughly involved in the world around us but be thoroughly compromised too. The danger here is that we live lives which are no different from anyone else.

We need to live good lives amongst the pagans. Will your life today help people want to know more about Jesus? Or less?

Pray

Ask God to help you say no to sinful desires and to live a clearly good life so that others may want to glorify him too.