“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.” (v1)
This one verse is convicting and powerful! Have you heard the idiom: " bad taste in my mouth"? This idiom is used to express feelings of regret and remorse, stemming from a realization that one has willingly participated in behavior that has led to an unforeseen and morally reprehensible outcome.
Think about how you feel and react to hearing gossip, criticism, or slander. Do you want to join in on the feeding frenzy of negativity? Or does it leave " a bad taste in your mouth" because you know it dishonors God? In contrast, the Bible says "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." (Psalm 34:8) As we grow spiritually, we should long for the sweetness of God's Words and seeing those principles lived out in the world around us. We may be the odd ones because we don't fit into the norm of the world but we are chosen by God to impact this world for good even in the midst of many things that are destructive and evil.
Jesus became God's chosen cornerstone for the building of a new and better covenant that would extend God's incredible grace and love to all mankind. We became the living stones that would continue to represent Christ to a fallen world. “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (3-4)
Jesus did not fit into the norm of this world but he made a tremendous impact that could not be ignored. As the cornerstone, all must encounter him. There's no way around it. Either you embrace his purpose and choose to surrender your life to him or you stumble as you choose to reject him and continue in the destructive pursuits of sin and selfish living. “So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.” ( V7-8)
The world may reject us just as they rejected Jesus but who we are " in Jesus" is all the acceptance that we should need. We are honored and blessed to be chosen by God and to be loved by Him. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (v9)
How do we proclaim his excellencies? Through our words that proclaim how wonderful He is and by our actions, which can sometimes speak louder than words. In all that we do and say, we represent Him. In this chapter we are given some examples of behavior God says will honor Him.
1. Abstain from passions of the flesh. These are passions that try to entice you away from God.
John Piper: “We abstain from passions of the flesh by replacing them with new passions for God.”
2.Keep your conduct honorable. Why would someone believe our words if they don't see us live out our beliefs?
3. Be subject to governing authorities established over us.
4. Live as people who are free ( saved from the punishment for sin by grace) but in (willful,chosen) service to God. If we truly value God's grace and the sacrifice of Jesus we would not carelessly dishonor God by thinking grace is a license to sin.
5. Honor everyone. Love others.
6.Fear (respect) God.
7. Be subject to your masters. ( Masters could be employers, bosses, leaders).
And now for the big eye opener: God says whether they are just or unjust.
Is that hard ? You bet! Does God know that's hard? You bet. And he gives us explanation for asking such a hard thing of us. “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.” (v19)
Jesus was our example. He chose to be submissive to the Father's will even though he suffered unjustly for it. He stayed mindful, not of man or what man might think, but mindful of God. "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3
You are chosen by God. He is mindful of you! Are you mindful of Him and how you represent Him?