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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