Peter’s readers were pilgrims in a foreign land. Not just Jews living amongst Gentiles but believers living amongst non-believers. As believers, we are still pilgrims living on earth which is not our home. Because this is not our home, we should not have our hearts and loyalties set on earthly things (Col 3:1-4). Therefore we should not indulge in all those things that are driven by fleshly desire. These desires are strong enough that Peter urges us to fight against them because they wage war against us. Our fleshly passions, if given into, have the ability to cause real damage to us. When we abstain from fleshly lusts we live an honourable lifestyle that will have a positive effect on non-believers who observe us. Even though they may speak badly of us, ultimately they will recognise our good deeds and give glory to God when Christ returns—probably because they have been moved to belief.

What does it look like to live an honourable life? Honour your government and the various legal establishments. Why? Because this is God’s will and we do it for His sake. God is the one who established the government over us (Rom 13:1). God’s purpose is that in doing good and obeying a non-Christian government is that it will silence ignorant and foolish people. There is a place to disobey the government, but only when its laws directly violate God’s requirements (Acts 4:19). As Christians, we have been set free but our liberty should not be used as a license to sin because it is from sin that we have been set free. Instead, we should use our freedom to live as servants of God. We are free to avoid evil and follow the laws of the land and we should do that in honour of God. Our lives should show respect to all.

In this world of social media, our response to the government can be very quick and very loud. What does your social media feed say about how you honour your government? In times when the government calls you to do things you don’t agree with, but which don’t violate God’s law, are you more inclined to obey or not?