1 Pet 3:12 – For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
This remarkable and pointed statement from the Apostle Peter, which is a direct quote from Psalm 34, comes immediately following a very detailed exhortation from Peter on how the Christian is to live their lives and walk out their faith. He does not mince words but makes it very clear that the protection, blessing and favor of the Lord will be directly tied to how well the Christian practices their faith and follows Him in righteousness, godliness and obedience. In the verse just preceding, addressing the brethren, he states: He must turn from evil and do good, he must seek peace and pursue it (1 Pet 3:11).
This truth is not often talked about or effectively communicated in modern day Christian teaching and theology. Oftentimes we are given the idea that as long as we profess Christianity, we are basically exempt from this exhortation because “we have the righteousness of Christ” now and that serves as the substitute, absolving us from any requirement in regards to us walking out our faith in godliness and obedience. We are told that God will overlook our behavior and “only see Jesus” when He looks upon His people as if looking through rose colored glasses, and yet it states in Heb 4:13 – Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. He clearly sees and beholds everything we say and do with no filter and it is to Him that we will give an account for it all, which is why we are told: And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear (1 Pet 1:17).
Now, as the Gospel teaches, any practice of righteousness or good works prior to a person being redeemed by Christ, or done outside of His inward work, is as a filthy rag and is insufficient and ineffective in satisfying the requirement of a holy God. But once a person is redeemed by Christ and walking in the Spirit by faith, their practice of righteousness becomes a valuable “fruit” and a required aspect of that redemption.
As the Christian follows Christ and grows in their faith, they will naturally grow in their obedience and godliness, and righteousness will spring forth as the fruit of it. As the Lord observes this fruit in his followers, He protects and pours out His blessing upon them. As the title verse states, He watches over them and His ears are open to their prayers. But, if a Christian fails to walk by faith and instead persists in walking after the flesh and doing things that are displeasing in His sight, the Lord will turn His face from them and will not hear their prayers. It’s a terrible place to be in and one that we need to avoid.
The principle of sowing and reaping is always in effect and the Christian does not get any special exemption from it. In fact, I would argue that it is most pronounced for the believer who should know better. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (Gal 6:8). It is imperative that the Christian learn how to put to death the deeds of the flesh and faithfully walk in the Spirit in a steadfast and consistent manner.
Unfortunately, because of the lack of, or bad teaching in this area, many Christians experience problems, turmoil and corruption in their lives and relationships that may actually be the result of their own behavior in sowing to the flesh and not walking in the Spirit. They are simply reaping what they have sown. Walking after the flesh, in its myriad of forms, will always bring destruction in a persons life and relationships and the Lord will not pour out His favor and blessings upon us in that state.
Gal 5:19-21 – Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Not only will walking in the flesh bring turmoil and destruction in the Christians life, if practiced and persisted in, can eventually result in being rejected and not granted entrance into the kingdom of God itself. It’s a serious issue and warning that we should not take lightly or try to talk ourselves out of.
As Christians, as part of our sonship, we need to be a people that are actively putting to death the deeds of the flesh and walking in the Spirit. Gal 5:22-24 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
The fruit of the Spirit, the outward evidence, is the tell-tale mark of “those who belong to Christ” and as we are diligent to practice that, the Lord blesses us, protects us, and hears our prayers.