byVerse 11 and downwards of 1 Peter chapter 2 opens a new area of teaching where Apostle Peter speaks on how the children of God ought to live in this fallen world. One of them is the necessity for a believer to abstain from fleshly lusts. And I’m glad to write about it in today’s Study-Scripture article release.
Verse 11
“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,”
1 Peter 2:11 (NKJV)
The main point the Apostle wants to draw our attention to is “… abstain from fleshly lusts …”. But looking at how important this is, he starts by begging us believers. Now we understand, from previous study-scripture articles released, that the epistle was addressed to Christians who were facing enormous persecution for the sake of the gospel (see 1 Peter 1:2-3). Nevertheless, everything written in it applies to us today. Moreover, it would be more practical for the children of God to live in conditions just like those to whom Peter addressed this letter.
You’re a sojourner in this world
As a believer, you must remember that Earth is not your final destination. It’s a place to fulfil your divine mandate and to relocate to heaven in God’s glory. And when this consciousness is well established in your heart, you’ll live like how ambassadors live – in another country, yet not influenced by it. You’re in the world but not of it (John 17:16). This world is your passerby. So, choosing to abstain from fleshly lusts is a privilege and a call to live a more consecrated life unto the Lord.
Because we live in a wicked world, it’s easy to find evil in expression. And that means fleshly lusts will never cease to wage war in your soul. That is why the Apostle placed that kind of battle in the present tense in that verse: “… which war against the soul,”.
Choosing to abstain from fleshly lusts is a privilege and a call to live a more consecrated life unto the Lord.
Yield your soul to God
Your soul is a war front, where God’s Spirit and the flesh usually contest your allegiance (see Galatians 5:13). If you choose to live by the dictates of the flesh, even as a Christian, the Word of God says that is death (see Romans 8:7, 13). But if you like by the dictates of the Spirit, you’ll enjoy the eternal life you have in Christ Jesus. Be determined to yield your soul to the Lord!
Verse 12
“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 2:12 (NKJV)
After abstaining from fleshly lusts, what is next to you as a believer? That’s what Peter continued to write, inspired by the Spirit in 1 Peter 2:12. We live with people. Some are believers, and some aren’t. So our world is filled with dynamic kinds of people. But to you, the child of God, note that your lifestyle is someone’s Bible. People are reading God by the way you live. However, the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV) that,
“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Therefore, because of this scripture, it is evident that unbelievers won’t see the relevance of what you’re doing to build yourself up in the Lord – such as going to church, hanging out with like-minded believers and not participating in sinful acts. So they’ll think your life is not good. But don’t believe their lies. Such people have no eternal life, so their lives are a mist – having nothing meaningful to offer to God’s world.
Your lifestyle is someone’s Bible. People are reading God by the way you live.
When they see your consistency in doing the right thing, they’ll have no option but to praise your God. And that is what happened to Daniel – when Belshazzar’s wife counselled her husband to look for Daniel. Because of your righteous way of living, you’ll get free recommendations to high places without you paying anything for such favours. Keep being faithful unto Christ.
