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
Do you ever wonder, Why can’t the world make being pure and holy easier? My friend, This has always been and will always be a dilemma for Christians.
The world won’t make living your faith easy, but God’s wisdom will make it easier to understand:
- the world. You and I are sojourners, pilgrims, aliens, and strangers. Adjust your perspective of the world and your ties to it.
- the Christian walk. You can keep yourself from sin. How? Put away your desires for money, power, and worldly success so your walk is not destroyed or marred by these temptations.
- the why. Here are two reasons to abstain from indulging fleshly cravings. First, so your conduct honors Christ. When your inner life is under control, then your outer life will honor the Lord. And second, so that you are found blameless when critics examine your life.
Honorable conduct is a wonderful lifetime goal! The Greek word for honorable implies the purest, highest, and noblest kind of goodness — goodness that is lovely, winsome, gracious, noble, and excellent. Attractive, gracious, upright behavior will always be your greatest defense… and your greatest witness.
Read Living Honorably on Elizabeth & Jim George.