Peter the
apostle told the “scattered”
Christians they were to “sanctify the Lord
God in” their “hearts:
and be
ready always to give
an answer to every man that asks” them “a
reason of the hope that is in” them. In
chapter three and verse sixteen of his letter, Peter told the
Christians the way to live before “false
accusers” where we read:
Having a
good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of
evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good
conversation in Christ.
The verse begins,
“Having a good conscience; that,
whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers,...” Peter
began with the word “having”
which means “to have and to hold in hand or wearing, having
possession of the mind, holding fast, comprised, involved, to regard
or consider and hold as” “a good”
or “useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy,
excellent, distinguished, upright and honorable” “conscience”
which means “the soul as distinguishing
between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and
shun the latter, commending one and condemning the other”;
“that”
or “in order that”, “whereas they
speak evil
of you” which
in Greek is “en hos katalaleō
hymōn hōs”
or “in times when they slander, criminate or traduce the scattered
Christians” “as of evildoers”
which refers to “malefactors, criminals and bad-doers”. Peter's
idea was for the Christians to live in a “good”
way when people “slander and incriminate” them.
The
verse continues, “...they may be ashamed that falsely accuse
your good conversation in Christ.” Peter added, “they may
be ashamed” or “dishonored, disgraced and put to shame”
“that falsely accuse” which means “insult, treat
abusively, use despitefully, revile and threaten” “your good”
or “useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy,
excellent, distinguished, upright and honorable” “conversation”
which means “manner of life, conduct, behavior and deportment”
“in Christ” which refers to “the anointed one, the
Messiah and the Son of God”. The result of the Christians living in
a “good” manner would be for others who “insult them and
treat them abusively” to “be dishonored and disgraced” because
they do.
When
we meditate upon Peter's words, we are reminded that he shared this
before in chapter two and verse twelve where he wrote, “having
your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak
against you as evildoers, they may by your
good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of
visitation.” Peter
knew the way Christians live speaks volumes over what they often say.
“Evildoers”
are going to be in the world, and people are going to “falsely
accuse” we
who follow Jesus Christ, and when they do we are to have a manner of
living that makes them “ashamed”
for it. May the Lord Jesus by His Holy Spirit help us to live as
Peter has instructed.
Next
time Peter tells the Christians “it is better to suffer
for well doing”, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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