Generally, we talk about honor only when we are referencing the military. However, in 1 Peter 2:11-12 all Christians are called to live honorable lives. What is honor? At the root of honor is the concept of value. We ought to live in a way that is good and valuable to society, regardless of whether that value is recognized. To have honor in a dishonorable society is a unique pickle. True honor is not defined by what the crowd values. It is inherently valuable and “ought” to be valued by all men.
It is precisely this situation that Peter talks to in this passage.
Verse 11 points out that there is a battle that goes on inside of each believer. God is not interested in people who appear to have value, like a kind of “fool’s gold.” Rather, he wants our outward honor to come from battles that have been won inside. If we try to act honorable without having fought those inner battles we will not have true honor, nor will our conduct truly make a difference. It will eventually implode because it lacks foundation, and we all know that foundations are valuable.
First he calls them “beloved.” This is important because in verses 9 and 10 he had reminded them of the book of Hosea. They were like the adulterous Gomer that had sold herself into slavery to follow her adulteries. Yet, Hosea, who represents God, had purchased her back to himself from the auction block. Imagine that guys or gals. What if you had to go buy your wife or husband back because they had purposefully sold themselves into prostitution? Would you do it? God has done that for us. Those who were not loved through Jesus now become “Loved.” You are loved by God and therefore should be loved by his people. You have been given a place in his family. Like a concerned older brother, Peter “begs” them to fight this inner battle. He is coming alongside them and urging them towards the good and warning them against the bad. No matter how this inner battle goes, we need to always keep in mind that if we have believed in Jesus then we are God’s beloved.
Next he reminds them that they are foreigners and strangers. If you follow Jesus and fight this inner battle then you are going to stick out as strange in the cultures of this world. Like any foreigner living in a foreign land we can forget our heritage and be assimilated. Though this is not evil in the natural sense, it is bad spiritually. In a world that is not fighting the “inner battle,” we stick out when we do. It can be easy to give up and be assimilated.
So what exactly is this war? Peter says that the lusts, or strong desires, that are based in our fleshly bodies war against our soul. Did you ever think that your 5 senses are being used by your lusts to fight against your soul? What would you be willing to sell your soul for? What is your price? The faith in Jesus that resides in your soul is hated by the lusts of the flesh. Like a little baby that is used to getting its way, it screams and fights for control. But unlike a little baby, the lusts of the flesh are able to kill faith and destroy our soul. Jesus said in Luke 21:19 that when we are going through trying times we can take possession of our soul by being patient. Trusting God in the fire and knowing that he will bring you through; waiting on God beside the Red Sea and knowing that he has a plan of deliverance; these are the things that are the valuables of our soul.
Peter says that they need to abstain from the lusts. Literally, we should create a separation between us and them. This tactical maneuver is meant to protect our faith and not lose our soul. Joseph does this literally when Potiphar’s wife tries to seduce him. In our lives we have many outward temptations, but they are working through inner lusts. If a computer is a temptation to let sexual lusts take over then what are some means that we can do to abstain and separate ourselves from that temptation? Lust always tells us that “Jesus isn’t enough.” It tells you that you need something that God says you don’t. Or, that you don’t need something that God says you do. Boiling it all down, it is the same argument as Satan used in the Garden with Eve. Leave God behind and satisfy yourself.
Let me remind you of the gospel, good news, of Jesus Christ. Before you ever get to doing something good for God, you already have all that you need in Jesus. When you put your faith in Jesus and follow him, you have all wisdom, power, joy, love, hope, and anything else that you will ever need. Jesus is the wisdom of God, the power of God, the joy of God, the love of God, etc… To have Jesus is to have everything you will ever need. This simple truth can be forgotten by those who fall to temptation. But it can also be forgotten by those who fight against it. God does not love you because you have conquered temptation so well. Nor does he despise you because you have done so poorly this week. God completely love you, before you ever do anything in this battle. He loves you because you have believed on His Son whom he sent. The problem is not solved so much by doing more as it is by believing more. Don’t let the lie of lust cause you to doubt these truths. And, don’t let successes in this battle cause you to fall to the lust of pride. Simply trust God. When you fight them you are protecting what you already have between Him and you.
Honorable conduct is that which is morally good and brings glory to God. Of course we need an unchanging means to measure the goodness of our conduct. Society cannot be a good judge of what is good because society is always changing. God has given us his sure word so that we can always know what is honorable no matter what society we are in.
Honorable conduct must always be lived out in the midst of those who are not honorable and are lost. Peter refers to the Gentiles. Literally this is all the nations and people. In that day none of these nations and people knew God. They were all lost. We have to live out God’s morality before people who are plunging madly ahead into pleasing the lusts of their flesh. This is not easy. In fact we will be often rejected. That is what Peter means when he says that some “speak against you as evildoers.” They may call you bigots, haters, ignorant, Judgmental, Intolerant, Out-of-touch, etc. but we are to continue living out what is good. Why? It really is valuable, honorable. They really do need us to live for God before them. They really do need to see it and rub up against us in their lives. It is the only way they are going to have any hope. It is not important that this world embrace us. But it is important that they observe us living out what is good before them.
Peter reminds them of a coming “day of visitation.” The day of visitation is a reference to a biblical concept that from time to time God inserts himself into a person’s life, or a nation’s affairs. When he does it is an opportunity for grace and mercy. If we receive him and follow him we will find miraculous grace. But if we reject him we find ourselves handed over to judgment. This is precisely what happened to Israel when Jesus came. Those who embraced him found grace and the miraculous activity of God. But those who rejected him went on to experience the judgment of God as they were handed over to the effects of their rebellious hearts. If we have lived out the truth before the lost, they have a chance to believe in the day of visitation. There will be something within them that remembers that strange person who lived differently because of Jesus. They may be saved.
We don’t appreciate good things until they are taken away. Don’t let the rejection of today cause you to quit fighting the inner battles and living honorably. You won’t win any accolades of this world, but you will make a big impact in some one’s life. Those who speak ill of you today, may come knocking at your door tomorrow. Will you help them or be offended? God help us to work for Him and not ourselves.
Lastly let me just say, God is faithful to visit individuals and nations at His appointed times. We need to be faithful knowing that God is faithful. America has had several visitation by God and I don’t know if we have another one coming. But it is our job to be faith because no matter what, this world is headed for the biggest visitation of them all—the second coming of Jesus Christ. Maranatha!