I want you to look inside yourself and ask: Is my conduct commendable before God? Peter lays it out in 1 Peter chapter 2—he calls us to a life of submission and endurance. But not just any submission. He’s talking about enduring wrongfully when you’re doing good. That’s the key. That’s the kind of conduct that finds favor with God.
Let me put it plainly, it’s not commendable to suffer because you’ve done wrong. There’s no credit in that. But when you do what’s good, when you live righteously, you’re mistreated for it, and still you choose patience, still you respond with grace, that is commendable before God.
Peter gave the example of a servant doing his best, and yet being mistreated. And I know how that feels. I’ve tried to do right, tried to help others, and still been treated with suspicion or scorn. You’ve probably felt that too. But Peter urges me, and you, to endure. Not because the treatment is fair, but because patient endurance while doing good reflects the heart of Christ.
Now, this isn’t limited to a master-servant situation. Peter applies it more broadly. He tells me to submit to the government, to respect authority. Wives are instructed to submit to husbands—even unbelieving ones—in a way that their conduct could win them over to the faith. Husbands, children, neighbors, church members—I’m called to live submissively, humbly, righteously in every relationship.
And let’s be honest, this isn’t easy. My natural instinct is to fight back. When I’m wronged, my flesh says defend yourself, retaliate, make them pay. But Peter reminds me: I was called to something different. I was called to follow Jesus.
Jesus suffered too. He was innocent. He never sinned, never deceived, never retaliated. When they mocked Him, He stayed silent. When they beat Him, He didn’t threaten. He simply committed Himself to God, the One who judges rightly.
That’s what I must do. That’s what you must do. Because when we follow in the footsteps of Christ, when we suffer for doing good and endure it with patience, we are glorifying God. We are showing the world what true discipleship looks like. And maybe, just maybe, our conduct will lead others to repentance, just as Christ’s suffering led us to healing.
But how can I be sure I’m living this commendable life? How can you be sure?
Peter gives us four anchors—four R’s to hold onto:
Rejoice.
Don’t see trials as strange. Rejoice when you suffer for Christ. You are blessed. That joy is a sign you’re on the right path.
Resist.
Satan is prowling like a roaring lion. He wants to pull you into bitterness and revenge. Don’t let him. Resist him. Stay grounded in your faith.
Respond.
Respond to mistreatment with goodness. Feed your enemies. Bless those who curse you. Overcome evil—not with more evil—but with good.
Rely.
Trust God. Sometimes justice doesn’t come in this life. But God sees. God knows. And one day, He will repay those who mistreat you. Just as Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father, I must do the same. So must you.
And I want to leave you with one last question—the most important one: Have you died to sin?
Peter said Jesus bore our sins so we could die to sin and live for righteousness. Paul explains how that happens—in Romans 6—through baptism. When I was baptized, I was buried with Christ, my old self crucified. I rose to walk a new life. Maybe you’ve done that. Maybe you haven’t. Maybe you were baptized once, but life got hard, and you’ve drifted. The good news is, God is ready to forgive. All you have to do is ask.
So, if you’ve realized that your conduct needs to change, if you want to live a life that’s truly commendable before God, don’t wait. Follow Christ. Follow His steps.
