"Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts
which war against the soul,
"having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles (all who are not
Believers), that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your
good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation."
1Peter 2:11-12 My parentheses

I have been running into these two verses for a couple of weeks now. Let's
look into them a little closer to see what Scripture will open to us. I
encourage each of us to do a deeper search as this will just give us an
opening. We have looked into the conduct of the Believer in the past and
here again we are reminded that our lives and conduct are to be different
than of those who are in the world. Why? Because we are in the world, BUT
not of it. We are sojourners and pilgrims here, our rightful home is with
Christ in heaven.

Verses 11 and 12 end the portion of 1 Peter 1:13 through 2:12 which one
Bible translation refers to as the sanctification of the Believer. Read
those verses with this in mind and then think about verses 11-12 as being
a 'therefore'.

Our focus of attention is on that portion of Vs. 12 that says,
"...they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God..."

Of these good works, Scripture tells us:
They are an influence for good -- for preserving:
"You are the salt for the earth..." Matthew 5:13
Salt is used for preserving, to keep things from spoiling or becoming
putrid. The Church, who we are, like salt, saves by contact. It is an
influence for good; a spiritual influence in the world. Also, see Mark 9:50

They glorify God:
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good
works, an glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

They furnish a pattern for imitation:
"In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in
doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, in order that
the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us."
Titus 2: 7-8

They tend to summon others to their tasks:
"And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
"not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another..." Hebrews 10:24-25

They demonstrate the reality of faith:
"Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
"But someone may well say, 'You have faith, and I have works; show me your
faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.'"
James 2:17-18

Now we know that works do not save (as some may believe) for Scripture tells
us:
"For BY GRACE you have been SAVED THROUGH FAITH; and that not of
yourselves, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; NOT AS A RESULT OF WORKS,
that no man should boast.  "For WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED
IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED
BEFOREHAND that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:8-10 My emphasis

How thankful we are that God so loved that He provided the way to Himself in
Christ Jesus our Lord! Let's us determine in our hearts to keep our eyes on
Christ, to walk in the path that our Father has laid before us and to trust
the Holy Spirit to lead and guide our every step so that the glory of God
may be seen in all the world.

Hallelujah! We are not alone! Our God reigns!