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Do you get frustrated by the world’s lack of cooperation with your faith and your spiritual goals? Do you wonder, Why can’t the world make being pure and holy easier?
This has always been and will always be a dilemma for Christians. During Peter’s time, Christians were being accused of defying Caesar, of causing social upheaval and unrest with their new religion, and of causing riots. But Pastor Peter shows believers—both then and now—how to bear up under persecution.
“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:11-12)
The world won’t make living your faith easy, but God’s wisdom will make it easier to understand:
Honorable conduct. Now that’s a wonderful lifetime goal! The Greek word for honorable is rich in meaning and implies the purest, highest, and noblest kind of goodness. It means “lovely,” “winsome,” “gracious,” “noble,” and “excellent.”
To live honorably means to live in a way that is so clean no charges against us can stand up. Attractive, gracious, upright behavior will always be our greatest defense...and our greatest witness.
Mistreatment and misunderstandings will come, but how you handle them speaks of your faith. Your conduct, lived out in a holy lifestyle, commends Christ to others around you.
Do you have an unbelieving husband or children or parents or brothers or sisters? Do you work with non-Christians? Are you continually misunderstood because you don’t think or live like the rest of “the gang”? Then rejoice that you are wearing God’s soft garment of a gentle and quiet spirit! Draw it around yourself, and conduct yourself in a winsome way—a God-glorifying way.
RESPOND
God, I’ve never viewed the world’s opposition to my beliefs as an opportunity. I’ve always viewed it as an obstacle. Please give me patience and a spirit of perseverance so I can overcome mistreatments and misunderstandings in ways that lead other people to a greater desire to know and understand You. Amen.
RENEWING RESOURCES 
Putting on a Gentle and Quiet Spirit by Elizabeth George—Discover how to handle trials and persecutions, including: suffering for doing good; understanding the mysteries of God; and fanning the flame of faith through this Bible study.
REFLECT
How do you view the world’s opposition to your beliefs? Pray about ways God will help you turn them into an opportunity to share about Him.
REMEMBER
When our inner life is under control, then our outer life will honor the Lord.
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Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
One of my favorite words in the English language is “bittersweet.” It’s sort of like the well-known announcement, “I’ve got good news and bad news. Which do you want first?” This picturesque term always reminds me that many occurrences in life fall simultaneously into the glad/sad category, bringing forth both emotions at once.