1 Peter 2: 11-25 KJV

Vs 11 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God… vs 21 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshlylusts, which war against the soul…

Peter in his writing, made use of an oxymoron in defining who we are- “Free” and “Servant of God”. Also went further to call us “strangers and pilgrims”.

Many times, as believers, our idea of our sonship in Christ is one of freedom mixed with a sense or need for ownership in the world. We assume that our freedom allows us to decide what we live for and how we live. However, if you’re asked today, what is the purpose for your living? As in, why are we in this world? What would your response look like?

To own things? To be the world best at what you’re doing i.e an doctor, tech bro/sis, lawyer etc?

To enjoy life? Or to live for God?

It’s interesting how the last option, to live for God, it’s usually a go-to option for many of as believers. But we never really really (yeah, the emphasis is intentional) pause to think of what responsibilities really come with it.

1 Cor 5: 15 Paul tells us clearly that receiving the life of Christ is receiving the mandate to live for Christ.

And before you begin to think that living for Christ is about having things, firstly, Paul and Jesus not only admonished us on the kind of approach we should have to things they also told us what our lives should be about.

1 Cor 7:21 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

He says the world is fleeting, temporary and as such, you cannot afford to have undue attachment to it, and worse off, make your living based on it.

Matt 6:19-33

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal… 25 … Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

So we see clearly that God who gave us this life we have in Christ says its of eternal worth, and as such we should treat it as the most important thing to us on the Earth. We should put our

affection, our minds on the things of Christ, the things that glorify his name over the things that glorify ourselves or flesh.

And Jesus modeled this kind of living to us so that we can know what this kind of looks like practically.

1Pe 2:21 KJV For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Ensample – hupogrammos- a pattern

Follow- imitate

Jesus wants us to imitate his living. So that people can also imitate our living. Just as how

Paul’s life became a pattern for Timothy and many others to follow. And we see Paul tell

Timothy the same thing- to live his life as an example for others.

1Ti 4:12 KJV Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

This is really apt because we are in an age and time where the society is beginning to fashionably look down on young people. They expect them to be rude, reckless, live on their own terms and just be whoever they want to be, whenever.

As a believer you shouldn’t embrace such culture. Christ didn’t model that to us, neither did Paul. They lived a life that was for God and for men by extension. They didn’t say things like “I don’t care what people have to think about me”. They cared, they really cared. And you know why? We can’t say we love God and not love men. 1 John 4:11,20, Matt 22:37-39.

This is why Paul can instruct the Corinthian church not to do something that would have a negative effect on someone else

1 Cor 8:8-9 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak

This is also why he would instruct the Phillipian church to consider others first before considering themselves

Phil 2:3-4 3. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

And it’s why Peter would instruct us to have a conduct that is honest to who we are at all times even among unbelievers who don’t love who we are or what we do.

1 Peter 2:12 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.

In conclusion, it’s a privilege to model Christ to the world. If we didn’t have people who modeled Him to us, Christianity might have been lost today. So, don’t let it be that the next generation will struggle to understand what Christianity really looks like because of your example. Be a worthy example of Christ.