Day 356: Submission, Suffering, and Holiness

Living Like God’s People—A New Way to Live (1 Peter 2:1–25)

Have you ever felt like you didn’t quite belong in this world? Like you were made for something more?

In 1 Peter 2, the apostle Peter reminds us that when we follow Jesus, we become part of something bigger—a new family, with a new purpose. But to live this new life, we have to let go of our old ways and start living like the people God has called us to be.

Let’s break it down into a few simple ideas.

Let Go of the Old, Grow in the New

Peter starts by saying:

“Get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.”

If you want to grow closer to God, you need to let go of bad habits. Think of it like cleaning out a closet—you can’t fill it with good things if it’s full of junk.

Then he says to crave God’s Word like newborn babies crave milk. Just like babies need milk to grow, we need God’s truth to grow spiritually.

You Are God’s Special People

Peter uses a picture of a building to explain who we are in Christ:

  • Jesus is the cornerstone—the most important part of the building.

  • We are like living stones, being built together into a spiritual house.

That means we belong to God’s family. We have a role to play. And here’s the beautiful part:

“You are a chosen people… a royal priesthood… God’s special possession.”

That’s your new identity. You’re not just “someone”—you’re someone loved, chosen, and called to share God’s light in a dark world.

Live Good Lives in a Watching World

Peter reminds us that as followers of Jesus, we’re like foreigners and travelers in this world. This isn’t our forever home.

So he says:

  • Stay away from sinful desires.

  • Live in a way that shows others what God is like.

Even if people don’t understand your faith now, your actions can speak louder than words, and one day they might come to believe in Jesus too.

Respect Others, Even When It’s Hard

These verses talk about something that’s not always easy: respecting authority and doing what is right, even when it’s unfair.

Peter says we should:

  • Submit to rulers and leaders—not because they’re perfect, but because God wants us to be a good example.

  • Do good, even if it leads to suffering.

Why? Because God sees it, and He honors those who are patient and faithful, even when life is tough.

Follow Jesus’ Example

This is the heart of the chapter. Peter says:

“Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”

Jesus didn’t do anything wrong, but He suffered for us. He didn’t fight back. He didn’t threaten people. Instead, He trusted God and gave His life to save us.

Because of Jesus:

  • Our sins are forgiven.

  • We are healed.

  • We’ve come home to God like sheep returning to their shepherd.

So when life is hard, or people treat us unfairly, we can look to Jesus and follow His way—a way of love, grace, and peace.

Final Thoughts

1 Peter 2 is a powerful reminder of who we are and how we’re called to live:

  • Let go of sinful habits and grow in God’s Word.

  • Remember you’re chosen and deeply loved by God.

  • Live in a way that shows others the goodness of God.

  • Respect others, even when it’s hard.

  • Follow Jesus’ example of patience, love, and trust.

You’re not just going through life—you’re part of God’s big plan. So live like it.

1 Peter 2:1-25 (WEB)

2:1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babies, long for the pure spiritual milk, that with it you may grow, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 Come to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious. 5 You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Because it is contained in Scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious.
He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”
7 For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone,”
8 and,
“a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.”
For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11 Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme, 14 or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well. 15 For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Live as free people, yet not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
18 Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked. 19 For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God. 20 For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God. 21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps, 22 who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.” 23 When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds. 25 For you were going astray like sheep; but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.