A favorite New Testament book of mine is 1 Peter. I’m drawn to it often because the world it imagines is so much like the one I experience. In this letter, Christians are called to live as a contrast society to the world around them. The world around the Christians consisted of an evil empire, many forms of idolatry, and wild parties every weekend, if not every night.
Living among people committed to empire, idolatry, and indulgence, the author of 1 Peter commissioned his readers with these words:
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 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. (1 Peter 2:11–12 NIV)
Framing our relationship to the world, even empire, as “aliens and strangers,” the writer reminds us that we are “only passing through” this world, but more so, since Jesus’ kingdom does not belong to this world, neither do we. If we are indeed “aliens and strangers” to the empires of this world, we should not over-invest in them but rather give much more attention to the kingdom that will never end.
The biblical writer calls on his readers to do two things. 1) Give attention to spiritual formation; and 2) live out that formation among those who live around us. Regarding the first task, God seeks to remove the war within our own lives. Therefore, we should “abstain from sinful desires.” However, there is the second and larger concern here: That our lives (now at peace because of Jesus) might announce the kingdom of God to those who might even accuse us falsely. The end result of our lives, according to this text, is that others might be prepared to worship God when he comes again.
So let’s commit again to live the good life for the good of others.
Dr. Stan's Study 
Stan, this is the third time this week (from July 10) that I have heard a similar thought. It seems to me that I am too thick to hear it the first time, but God’s message through you is coming through loud and clear today! Spiritual formation is often overlooked in the institute of church, but it cannot be overlooked in personal Christianity. If I am to follow Jesus, then I must first fall to my knees before him. If God were ever trying to send me a message, there aren’t may more clear than this one. Thank you Stan.