11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:11-21. WHAT EXACTLY DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE GODLY LIVES AMONG PAGANS? SOME ANSWERS PLEASE

In response to the above verses, a dear friend of mine gave her testimony. I only edited a few errors, but this is what she said. 

Wow sis, I can talk about this all day. Living Godly lives start with abstaining from committing sin, then abstaining from activities which don’t glorify God, and living as a light in grace and truth from the Lord. That’s the theology; the application however can take many forms. In modern terms the pagans would be the world, so it would be how we as Christians should live in it. We still have to interact with people because we are not yet dead but we can’t be “in” the world. To make it more understandable, I will give some examples of things which i have removed from my life. 1. Fornication: Most pagans believe its normal at a certain age to engage in sexual activities. I used to think that way as well. 2. Movies and TV: If you won’t engage in the sin, why support it by watching or buying it? 3. Doctrine of devils,  such as do what you will or only respect those who respect you. It is a lie and Jesus teaches us to love even our enemies and do the father’s will. And so on. Doing such things has sent friends away and most people don’t get it. But that is the blessing in that we can stand out as that light when we live for Christ and through our actions and convictions others will be saved or blessed.

ME: I could not have said it any better. It takes courage and strength to express what you have expressed my love. Many of us will die with the truth of what are lives used to be like. To have you confess all that you have left behind is such a blessing to many who are afraid to let go. Like you, I lost many friends, because I would not do what they did, I would not dress how they would and I would not go where they wanted. They thought I was uncool being me. I found pure joy in knowing that the one who knows me best thought I was cooler than them all. The language that comes out of our mouth is debatable, depending on what is acceptable to the world. When we speak like the world, gossip like the world and laugh like the world, then we become friends with the world, which tears at God’s heart. What music do people listen too? Is the music building your character positively or negatively? What music videos do you allow your brain to register? Sex and drugs or soul touching? There are secular songs that give encouragement, but those have lost their value today due to the market-demand for unhealthy things. The clothes you wear, do they glorify God? At night when no one is watching, do you feel guilty with what you are wearing to go out?

You are my sister in Christ indeed. For the things you have spoken the spirit in me fully agrees with and loves! I forgot to mention dressing modestly, I was recently convicted of that. I ended up deleting my facebook pictures which still depicted me in a worldly way lest other be confused by whom I served. Girl we can speak about gossip all day. Being false witness and having a spirit of deception. Not really gossiping but planting seeds of deception. All these things people of the world do without even knowing. Am baffled, reverse psychology has become a novelty, now. Sis I love telling people what I have done (which is plenty) because I know so many people think Christians are just hypocrites. As the Holy Spirit leads I share my testimony, there is power in that. And a loving God washing all sins and makes us white as snow. It’s a testimony of who Jesus is.

I’d also like to add that living Godly starts with Jesus himself who died on the cross for our sins. THE Christ. If there is no love of Christ then living apart from the world won’t happen and even if it does, it will simply be legalism and the law. Which as the word tells us is weak.

This is a testimony of a dear sister who speaks from her heart and life. What’s your story like. What are the lessons you have to offer others, and help a sister or brother have hope for their life?