The passage preached Sunday utilized the phrase conduct yourselves. On its face, the phrase is quite easy to understand: we are supposed to live a certain way. Scripture gives greater clarity when the same phrase is repeated multiple times in multiple New Testament letters (see 2 Corinthians 1:12–14; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 13:15–18). In this case, conduct yourselves or they conducted themselves is used often and in similar fashion.
Two of those times (Ephesians 2:3 and 2 Peter 2:18), the language points to the conduct of wickedness which follows worldliness. An evil world will do evil acts. But the other mentions in Scripture generally refer to a consistent life lived both in the Spirit as well as in the community of the faithful. A faithful congregation, living in the Spirit, will produce faithful fruit for those in the Spirit. A beautiful portrayal of the early church family shines through these instances. Paul notes to Corinth how they knew his godly sincerity by how he conducted himself. To Timothy, Paul writes of the responsibility of elders and how they engage within the membership, how the congregation receives them, and ultimately how effective ministry in the congregation starts from a leader’s holy conduct (note the similarity here with Hebrews 13:15–18). The offices of the church specifically point to a necessity for godly character that members are to champion and follow (now that is convicting!).
We often forget how our conduct isn’t just about us. We are to live in demonstration of our Lord. We are to exercise godly conduct for one another so that we might enjoy the fruits of the Spirit and stir one another up all the same. The importance of community and even church structure is witnessed in how and where this phrase leaps out of Scripture.
How is the Lord convicting you in your conduct? How will the Lord utilize your conduct this week among the people of God?
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