1 Peter 2:12 (ESV): “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”
The “day of visitation” refers to the time when God visits humanity—either to save or to judge.
Both types are considered days of visitation.
For example, when God comes to save, there are moments when His grace visits a person or even an entire nation. During such times, powerful spiritual awakenings often occur. The period of Christ’s earthly ministry was a special visitation for Israel, but they did not receive it—except for a few. (Luke 19:41–44 ESV)
On the other hand, God also visits to judge, and this refers to the day when each person will be judged according to their deeds.
Returning to 1 Peter 2:12, which says, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable… so that they may… glorify God on the day of visitation,” the meaning is this:
The good conduct of a believer can help lead others to receive salvation and glorify God when their moment of grace comes. For some people, when the day of visitation reaches them, it becomes easier for them to believe and glorify God because they have already witnessed the good character of believers—love, peace, integrity, and uprightness.
But if your conduct is corrupt, then when their day of visitation comes, it becomes much harder for them to glorify God, because what they remember is the bad example they saw in you.
This is the same idea Peter explains a little later when speaking about husbands and wives. Regarding wives, he says that if a woman has an unbelieving husband, she can win him to Christ through her conduct alone. (1 Peter 3:1 ESV)
In short, your righteous conduct helps clear the path for the grace of Christ to work more effectively in someone’s life.
May God bless you.
Feel free to share this good news with others.
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