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Contending for Your Time of Visitation

1 Peter 2:12 – “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.”

            One of Satan’s favorite tactics is to slander the believer.  The Apostle Peter warned that we would be slandered and persecuted by evildoers.  1 Peter 2:12 from the New American Standard Version reads, “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.” 

            The word slander is an interesting word.  The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia defines slander as “an accusation maliciously uttered, with the purpose or effect of damaging the reputation of another. As a rule it is a false charge; but it may be a truth circulated insidiously and with a hostile purpose.”[i]

Pamela Rose Williams writes, “One of the things that can destroy any church or ministry is gossip. Other terms in the Bible for gossip include:  backbiter, busybody, slanderer, secrets, talebearer and whisperers.  So then, a Biblical definition of gossip would be to spread rumors or secrets, speak about someone maliciously behind their back or repeat something about someone else that you have no right to repeat.”[ii]

The enemy attacks at the place of your breakthrough. Breakthrough will be a result of divine visitation. He seeks to prevent you from experiencing your time of visitation.  In 1 Peter 2:9-10 the Apostle Peter defines who we are in Christ.  Verses 9-10 says, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”

In verses 11-12 Peter explains how we are to live in a world that is hostile to our faith. “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 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.”

            What does it mean when others speak against you?  How do we respond? We simply overcome evil by doing good. Have you been the object of the enemy’s scorn? Then you are blessed. Jesus gave us these encouraging words in Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”


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