By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi

Our lives, ministry and labour must only and always be for God’s glory as members of the body of Christ. Whatever we do or say, wherever we go or refuse to go, and the decisions we make daily should be to the glory of God. We should not do anything to aid self, the flesh, the enemy of our souls, the Antichrist or promote the falling away of a believer in these last days. Rather, we are to help in the propagation of the gospel.
   
One way to do this is by “having (our) conversation honest (truthful and transparent) among the Gentiles.” When we do this, they would “by (our) good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” Our living to labour for God’s glory must also affect areas as basic as what we “eat or drink.” Everything we do, whether small or great, common or uncommon, ordinary or extraordinary, we must “do all to the glory of God.” This will only be possible if we would “not henceforth live unto (ourselves), but unto (Christ).” It means we would not hoard our ability, skill, intelligence and strength, or tone down our service to the Lord.
 
Believers must have the conviction that we are “strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” We are not of this world; our citizenship is in heaven. A pilgrim is like a nomad moving from place to place. As a result, they do not build anything permanent in their stops. As pilgrims, we are on a journey to our permanent habitation in heaven.
 
Besides, God has appointed us here as ambassadors, strangers in a foreign land to represent Him and carry out His mission. As strangers, we are not totally under the control of the laws of this place. Accordingly, the dressing, tradition, language, entertainment and actions of the world are strange to us. On the other hand, our lifestyle is strange to them because our heart is always set on heaven, and we do not fight for the things of this world.
 
Nonetheless, for strangers and pilgrims, things are not always rosy. We do not participate in the traditional and idolatrous activities, leisure and pleasure, which the people of the world revel in. We must not be involved in anything that would hinder us from going to meet the Lord when He returns to take His people home. This will require that we always remember our conviction and maintain the understanding that we are strangers and pilgrims on earth.

The implication is that we “abstain from all appearance of evil” and fleshly lusts that drown men in the abominations of the world. We must not make compromises on the practices of the people of the world nor allow their pressure or allurement to suck us into their system, no matter how much they “speak evil of (us), as evildoers.”
 
• Further reading (King James Version): 1 Peter 2:11,12; Romans 15:5,6; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 10:31; 2 Corinthians 5:14,15; 2 Thessalonians 1:11,12; 1 Peter 4:11; Philippians 1:9-11. 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Chronicles 29:14; Psalm 119:19,54; Hebrews 11:9,10,13-16; Micah 2:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; 1 Peter 2:15; 3:16. 1 Peter 2:9,13-17; 1 Thessalonians 4:11,12; 1 Timothy 3:7; Romans 13:1-5; 1 Timothy 4:2; 1 Peter 2:19. 1 Peter 2:21-25.