“Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.” (NLT)

Have you ever lived in a foreign country? I lived in Germany for about 3 years and discovered that I had no clue about the German culture, even though I had studied the language for years and thought I was ready to “blend in” with the locals. I found that I observed those around me and mimicked the actions and behaviors I saw, so that I would not stand out as a foreigner in the crowd. I also found out that my German neighbors were closely watching me and drawing their own conclusions on what Americans were like from a sample of one. When I found this out, I started being very aware of how I acted and spoke around them, not wanting to bring discredit on my home nation. It is more than not wanting to “mess up;” I also wanted to represent it well because I am proud of my country.  

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As followers of Christ, we are called to live in a way that sets us apart from the world. Peter reminds us that we are "temporary residents and foreigners," meaning that this world is not our ultimate home. Because of this, we should not live according to the sinful desires of our flesh, but rather, use our lives—including our bodies—to bring glory to God.

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Our bodies are instruments of worship. The choices we make—what we do with our hands, where we allow our feet to take us, how we use our voices—should all be done with the aim of honoring Christ. The world is watching, and our actions can either reflect God’s goodness or contradict the faith we profess. Our neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family watch what we do and what we don’t do.

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How Can We Glorify God with Our Bodies?

• Practice Self-Control – Peter warns against the passions of the flesh that wage war against our souls. Whether it’s through avoiding sinful temptations, maintaining purity, or treating our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), self-control helps us live in a way that honors God.

• Serve Others – Our hands can be used to help those in need, our mouths to speak words of encouragement, and our strength to bear the burdens of others. Jesus Himself set the example of servanthood with His body—washing the feet of His disciples and ultimately giving His life for us.

• Worship Through Holiness – Honorable conduct is a powerful testimony. When we live differently from the world—not giving in to gossip, immorality, or destructive habits—people will take notice. Even if they initially reject or criticize us, our faithful witness may eventually lead them to glorify God.

So... What does this mean for you and me? We must be mindful of our “physical witness” to the world around us. We choose to act in ways that bring glory to God, making good choices with the things we do and don’t do.  

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Here are some questions that I use to evaluate how I am doing:

• Are there areas where I have allowed my fleshly desires to take priority over my spiritual calling?

• How can I use my body today as a vessel to honor God?

• Am I living in such a way that unbelievers see Christ in me?

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You and I need to be intentional in how we live, remembering that our bodies are a gift from God, meant to be used for His glory. When we submit our actions to Him, our very lives become a testimony that can lead others to Christ. We are strangers in a strange land and should remember that our actions and words speak about our true home nation – God’s Kingdom.

Lord, thank You for giving me a body to serve and glorify You. Help me to resist sinful desires and use my actions to honor You. May my life reflect Your goodness so that others may see Your love through me. In Jesus' name, Amen.