1 Peter

“If [since] you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth” (1 Peter 1:17).

Are you aware that the Bible describes different kinds of judgments? The one to which Peter is referring is the judgment of believers’ works. Although we’re not saved by works, God takes note of how we conduct ourselves after we’re saved.

Peter reminds us that God is an impartial judge and that we should live in a way that shows reverence for Christ. Peter gives examples of what this looks like.

• We are holy in all our behavior, like the Holy One who called us, 1:15.
• We fervently love one another from the heart, 1:22.
• We put aside all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander, 2:1.
• We long for the pure milk of the word, so we grow in respect to salvation, 2:2.
• We proclaim the excellencies of Christ who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, 2:9.
• We abstain from fleshly lusts that wage war against our soul, 2:11.
• We keep our behavior excellent, 2:12.
• We submit for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, 2:13.
• We honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king, 2:17.
• We follow in Christ’s steps, 2:21.
• Wives are submissive, chaste, and respectful to their husbands, 3:1-2.
• Husbands live with their wives in an understanding way and show them honor as a fellow heir of grace so their prayers aren’t hindered, 3:7.
• We are harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead, 3:8-9.
• We keep our tongue from evil and our lips from speaking deceit, 3:10.
• We turn away from evil and do good; seeking peace, 3:11.
• We sanctify Christ as Lord in our heart, and are always ready to make a gentle, reverent defense to everyone who asks us to give an account for the hope that is in us, 3:15.
• We keep a good conscience, 3:16.
• We live the rest of our lives no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God, 4:2.
• We live in the spirit according to the will of God, 4:6.
• We’re of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer, 4:7.
• We’re hospitable to one another without complaint, 4:9.
• We employ the special gift God’s given us in serving one another as good stewards, 4:10.
• We speak as one speaking the utterances of God and serve by the strength God supplies so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, 4:11.
• We entrust our souls to our faithful Creator when we suffer according to the will of God, 4:19.
• We humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, 5:6.
• We cast all our anxiety on God, because He cares for us, 5:7.
• We’re of sober spirit and on the alert knowing that our adversary, the devil, prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour, 5:8.
• We resist the devil, firm in our faith, 5:9.

Our lives are to represent the excellencies of Christ. How are we doing?

Heavenly Father, ONE WHO IMPARTIALLY JUDGES, thank You that You are just, and that each of us is called and has the opportunity to serve You well. 

The following is a “Do Over” of  the “365 Days of Praise” post “God who IMPARTIALLY JUDGES.” I wanted to do it over to make a more accurate, complete application of the Scripture.

If (since) you address as Father the one who IMPARTIALLY JUDGES according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;”

1 Peter 1:17

Are you aware that the Bible describes different kinds of judgments? The one to which Peter is referring is the judgment of believers’ works. Although we’re not saved by works, after we’re saved, God takes note of how we conduct ourselves. Peter reminds us that God is an IMPARTIAL JUDGE and that we should conduct ourselves in fear during our stay on earth.  “Conducting ourselves in fear” means we live in way that shows reverence for and Christ. Peter gives examples of what this looks like.

• We are holy in all our behavior, like the Holy One who called us, 1:15
• We fervently love one another from the heart, 1:22
• We proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us our of darkness into His marvelous light, 2:9
• We abstain from fleshly lusts that wage war against our soul, 2:11
• We keep our behavior excellent, 2:12

In the first draft of this post, my application of the Scripture asked if we were sloppy, half-hearted, and lazy. But, those negative applications to our homes, work places, and ministries don’t touch our high calling in Christ. An unbeliever can be tidy, whole-hearted, and diligent. In our own strength, we can “self-improve.” The believer’s high calling in Christ and for which we’ll be rewarded is beyond earthly standards. It’s a life infused and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our calling is to represent the excellencies of Christ. When we do, we show reverence for Him.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being an impartial Judge. Help us conduct ourselves in reverence to You.