“Beloved, I beg you as sojourner’s and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles (those 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.”
1 Peter 2:11-12  (My parenthesis)

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 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 11-12 end the portion of 1 Peter 1:13 through 2:12 this in 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 which 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 of the earth…”  Matthew 5:13
Salt is used for preserving, to keep things from spoiling, of becoming putrid.  The church, who we are, like salt, saves by contact.  It is an influence for good; a spiritual influence in the world.  See Mark 9:10 also.

Good works glorify God:
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

Good works 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

Good works 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

Good works 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 (but some may believe that they do), 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 one 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 8-10  (My emphasis)

Whole heartedly we thank you most holy God for Your love that provided the way to Yourself in Christ Jesus, our Lord.  Let us keep our eyes on Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit, walk in the path our heavenly Father has laid before us. 

Our God reigns!  Hallelujah and Amen.