Category: Digging Deeper

 

In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

Daniel 2: 17-18 (NIV)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

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SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT

 

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Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

 

He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel 2: 18 (NIV)

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CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD

 

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Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

 

Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel 2: 17-18 (NIV)

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)

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CIRCLE UP

 

 

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Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

 

I will remember the deeds of the Lord ; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

Psalm 77:11 (NIV)

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TRACING THE STEPS

 

 

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Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

 

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

Daniel 1:8 (NIV)

 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

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HOW’S YOUR FAITH?

 

 

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Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

1 Peter 2:17 (ESV)

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HONOR, LOVE, FEAR, HONOR

 

The final verse of this section feels like a locker room verse. I picture Tennessee, LSU, or Clemson running through the locker room, touching a sign above the door before they hit the field that says, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

Alright… maybe the fourth statement is a stretch. But seriously, if any coaches out there are looking for a new battle cry for your team, 1 Peter 2:17 is a pretty strong contender!

Why does Peter end this section with these four quick reminders? Because they’re a perfect summary of what he’s just been teaching. It’s like he’s saying, “If you don’t remember anything else, remember this!” These four phrases capture what it looks like to live out our faith in the midst of a watching world, whether it’s with your family, in the workplace, or in your daily interactions.

Honor everyone – Peter isn’t just telling us to honor the people who think like us, act like us, or treat us kindly. No! He’s saying honor everyone. That includes difficult people, those who disagree with us, and even those who might mistreat us. Why? Because every single person is made in the Imago Dei—the image of God. That’s what gives each person inherent worth and value, whether they acknowledge it or not.

To honor someone doesn’t necessarily mean agreeing with everything they do or say. It doesn’t mean excusing sin or injustice. But it does mean treating them with dignity and respect, recognizing that they, like us, are image-bearers of God. Think of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, where He calls us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). This is the kind of radical honor Peter is talking about.

Love the brotherhood – This is a reference to the community of believers, the church. And this isn’t just about loving the people in your small group or the friends you sit next to in service. It’s about loving all who profess the name of Jesus, even when it’s hard, even when there are disagreements or differences of opinion.

Loving the brotherhood means having each other’s backs. It means carrying one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), encouraging one another daily (Hebrews 3:13), and forgiving one another as Christ forgave us (Colossians 3:13). And yes, sometimes love means having difficult conversations, experiencing growing pains, or working through conflicts. But as 1 Corinthians 13:7 reminds us, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” This kind of love creates a strong, unified community that reflects the heart of God to the world.

Fear God – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” says Proverbs 9:10. Peter reminds us here that the foundation of all our actions should be a healthy, reverent fear of God. Not a cowering fear, as though we’re scared of what He might do to us, but a deep respect and awe for who He is.

When we have the right view of God, everything else falls into place. We start to live with a sense of purpose, knowing that our lives are ultimately accountable to Him. We also gain the wisdom to navigate life’s complexities because our actions are guided by a desire to honor Him above all else. If we fear God rightly, we won’t be swayed by the opinions of others or the pressures of this world. Instead, we’ll live with the freedom and confidence that comes from knowing who holds ultimate authority.

Honor the emperor – Peter understood that, regardless of how flawed or evil a leader might be, all authority ultimately comes from God (Romans 13:1). Honoring the emperor didn’t mean agreeing with everything Nero did or condoning his actions. It meant recognizing that God was still sovereign over the situation and that submission to earthly authorities was part of living out their faith.

If Peter could challenge his readers to honor a man as evil as Nero, then we can honor those in leadership over us, even when we disagree with them. Honor begins with submission, and submission starts with the heart.

As we wrap up this week, the question remains: How is your heart doing? Are you cultivating a heart that’s quick to honor others, quick to forgive, and quick to love? Are you developing a heart that fears God above all else, or are you more focused on what others think?

Living out these commands from Peter isn’t easy, but it’s part of what it means to live as a follower of Christ. It starts with our heart—how we see God, how we see others, and how we respond to the pressures and challenges of life.

As you reflect on this verse, ask yourself: Are you honoring everyone, even those who are difficult to honor? Are you loving the brotherhood of believers, even when it’s messy or inconvenient? Are you living with a healthy fear of God, allowing His wisdom to guide your life? And are you willing to honor those in authority over you, even when it’s hard?

If your heart is in the right place, you’ll find that these commands aren’t burdensome, but life-giving. You’ll be living in a way that reflects the heart of God to a world that desperately needs to see it.

 

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Sellers Hickman serves as College Pastor at NorthStar Church and loves cheering on his Ole Miss Rebels. He and his wife, Hannah, live in Dallas, Ga. with their one year old, Emery. He also serves as the chaplain for the KSU Men’s Basketball team.

 

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

1 Peter 2:13-14 (ESV)

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PEOPLE WHO ARE FREE

 

I believe that deep down, there’s something in us that always wants to have the last word. We want to defend ourselves, explain why we do what we do, or make sure people see us the right way. It’s a natural human instinct. But here’s the question: What example did Jesus set for us in this area?

When we look at Jesus’ life, especially in the moments leading up to His crucifixion, we see something remarkable. Despite all the false accusations thrown at Him, despite being slandered, beaten, and eventually sentenced to death, He didn’t defend Himself. Isaiah 53:7 says, “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” Even the Son of God, the One who had every right to speak up and defend Himself, remained silent. He didn’t feel the need to respond to the lies or to prove His innocence. He trusted God the Father to handle it.

So, if Jesus didn’t feel the need to have the last word, why do we?

I remember sitting in Jamie Maddox’s office years ago, wrestling with the cultural climate of our world and how I should best lead college students through it. I had a bunch of “what if” scenarios running through my head. “What if they say this?” “What if they think this?” “What if they disagree?” I was consumed with this need to defend my stance—what I thought was “right.” But I’ll never forget what Jamie told me that day. He said, “God’s seen us to this point, and He’ll see us through any ‘what if’ scenario. We can trust that He will defend His church, and He’ll do a much better job than we will.”

That stuck with me. God has always been faithful. He has brought us through every trial, every accusation, and every misunderstanding, and He will continue to do so. We can trust Him to defend His church because He is far better equipped for that job than we are. And as much as we can see that God defends His church, how much more precious are you to Him personally?

You are a child of God. You are His beloved, adopted into His family through Christ. If He will defend His church, don’t you think He will defend you too? God has your back, whether you’re facing accusations, criticism, or unfair treatment. You don’t need to step in and have the last word because God will take care of it.

That’s what makes verse 16 of this passage so powerful. We are free! We don’t have to be enslaved to the opinions of others or to the fear of “what ifs.” We’ve been freed by the grace of God, and that freedom allows us to live differently. It allows us to serve others without the need for recognition or validation because we know that God is the One who sees us and cares for us.

Imagine living out of that place of freedom. What if you didn’t feel the need to defend yourself every time someone questioned your faith or your actions? What if, instead of feeling like you had to prove yourself to others, you simply trusted that God sees you, knows you, and will take care of you?

That’s the kind of freedom Peter is talking about. It’s a freedom that comes from knowing we are secure in God’s love, no matter what others may say or think. It’s a freedom that empowers us to serve others, not because we’re trying to earn approval, but because we already have it from the One who matters most.

So today, as you go about your life, remember this: you don’t need to have the last word. You don’t need to win every argument or defend yourself against every accusation. God has you. He sees you. And He will defend you. You are free to live in that truth and to serve others from a place of peace, knowing that God is your ultimate defender.

Trust that God has you today.

 

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Sellers Hickman serves as College Pastor at NorthStar Church and loves cheering on his Ole Miss Rebels. He and his wife, Hannah, live in Dallas, Ga. with their one year old, Emery. He also serves as the chaplain for the KSU Men’s Basketball team.

 

¹³ Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.

1 Peter 2:13-14 (ESV)

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SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITIES

 

We have a lot of tension around politics today. Election seasons bring out the best and worst in people, and it can feel overwhelming to navigate through it all. But Peter writes to a group of believers living in an even more politically charged environment than ours.

When Peter writes these words, things were far from ideal. He was living under Roman rule. It wasn’t like he could vote for who was in charge. The Roman Empire was a dictatorship, and the last two emperors, Claudius and Caligula, had been awful rulers. Claudius was known for his cruelty, and Caligula’s reign was infamous for his madness and tyranny. And yet, as bad as they were, Nero, who was coming to power, made them look tame.

At the time Peter writes this letter, Nero’s rule is still early. It’s ironic that, for a short time, he might have seemed like an improvement compared to his predecessors. However, history shows how terribly wrong things went. Nero had an intense hatred for Christians. He would eventually order the great fire of Rome, watch it burn from his balcony, and then blame Christians. From there, persecution escalated. Christians were fed to lions, burned alive, and brutally executed for sport. This was the government Peter was under. This was the political climate he was writing about.

And yet, in the midst of all this, Peter writes these counter-cultural verses. Peter is telling believers to submit to authority, even to an authority as corrupt and hostile as Rome. Why? Because submission to earthly authority is an act of submission to God’s sovereignty. God has allowed this authority to exist, and our submission reflects trust in His greater plan.

I know times are tense right now as we head into election season. I don’t know where you stand politically, but no matter where you fall on the political spectrum, there’s a lot of anxiety, anger, and division. People are passionate about who they believe should lead, and every election cycle seems to carry more weight than the last.

It’s easy to think that everything hinges on the next vote, the next law, the next leader. And yes, politics are important because they affect real lives. But as Christians, Peter reminds us that we are called to something higher. Our ultimate hope doesn’t rest in an emperor, a president, or a political party—it rests in God. We can engage in the political process, but we do so with the perspective that God is ultimately in control, no matter who holds office.

Peter knew how hard this was for his readers, and he still encourages them to be subject to human authorities “for the Lord’s sake.” In doing so, they were bearing witness to God’s order and plan, even when they didn’t understand it. The same is true for us. We may not always understand why certain leaders come to power, but we are called to honor them—not because they are always worthy of honor, but because our actions reflect our trust in God’s greater sovereignty.

But what does submission look like in our context? Does it mean blind obedience? No. Peter doesn’t say we should follow government leaders into sin or violate our consciences. In fact, Scripture makes it clear that when human laws conflict with God’s commands, we must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). But in all things that don’t violate God’s law, we are to show respect and honor, even when we disagree with policies or the person in power.

This doesn’t mean we disengage or remain silent on important issues. Far from it. We are called to stand up for truth, justice, and righteousness. But we do so from a place of peace, not panic. We remember that no matter what happens in an election, God is still on the throne. Our allegiance is ultimately to Him.

Peter’s words challenge us to rethink how we engage with politics. Are we driven by fear, anger, and division? Or are we rooted in trust that God is ultimately in control?

So, as we head into this election season, let’s take a step back. Let’s remember that our hope doesn’t rest in an earthly leader. Let’s engage with wisdom and grace, submitting where we can, standing firm where we must, and trusting God in all things. Just as Peter called the early Christians to honor the emperor, we are called to honor those in authority today, for the Lord’s sake and for the sake of our witness in a world that desperately needs to see His peace.

 

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Sellers Hickman serves as College Pastor at NorthStar Church and loves cheering on his Ole Miss Rebels. He and his wife, Hannah, live in Dallas, Ga. with their one year old, Emery. He also serves as the chaplain for the KSU Men’s Basketball team.

 

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

1 Peter 2:12 (ESV)

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A TESTIMONY OF GOOD DEEDS

 

Growing up, there was a certain set of rules my parents wanted us to follow. They weren’t overly strict, but they had expectations—curfews, manners, and respect. If we broke the rules, there were always consequences. These boundaries mattered because they shaped who we were. We didn’t just follow them for the sake of following rules; we followed them because they were about living rightly and representing our family well.

Peter gives us a similar principle when it comes to living as Christians. As we fight sin and walk through this world, he says we should look different, especially among non-believers (the Gentiles). Our goal isn’t just to appear different for the sake of being different or to gain others’ approval. We don’t uphold Christian standards to polish our image, fit in with church culture, or give ourselves a sense of moral superiority. We aim to live in a way that brings glory to God.

You’ve probably had moments in your life when others spoke down to you for what you believe in and stand up for. In those moments, it’s tempting to feel awkward, embarrassed, or like the odd one out. Maybe you’ve been in a situation where you were tempted to compromise just to fit in or not cause waves. Maybe you’ve thought, “I don’t want people to think I’m weird for my faith.” It’s easy to feel like our convictions make us outsiders.

But what if we saw those moments differently? What if, instead of feeling embarrassed, we saw them as opportunities to glorify God? When Peter says, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable,” he’s inviting us to live in a way that points back to God. When people question why we live the way we do, that’s a chance to speak of our love for God, not a time to shrink back.

This isn’t just about saying “no” to certain behaviors. It’s about doing so with purpose. Peter says that even when others “speak against you as evildoers,” our good deeds can stand as a witness. When people mock you, slander you, or question you, your commitment to live honorably has the power to make them stop and wonder.

It can be tough being a Christian today. The pressures we face are very real. Culture often pushes us to embrace values that contradict what we believe. The more we resist, the more we stand out. But here’s the thing: just because it’s difficult doesn’t mean we should shy away. If anything, the difficulty should remind us how important it is to hold the line.

When others speak against your faith, whether it’s in a classroom, a workplace, or even in your friend group, what will your response be? Will you hide in discomfort, or will you let your love for God shine? We are called to be witnesses to the gospel. Part of that witness comes through the way we live. People are watching, and while we may not always see the fruit right away, we never know how God is using our lives to plant seeds in others.

I want to encourage you: don’t give up! The way you live matters. And not just because it makes you look good, but because your life has the potential to bring glory to God in ways you can’t even imagine. Maybe your neighbor notices how patient you are when things get stressful. Maybe your classmate sees how kind you are to those who are overlooked. Maybe, one day, that coworker who once thought your faith was a joke will come to you in a time of crisis, asking about the hope they’ve seen in you all along. Our good deeds, even in the face of opposition, can be a powerful testimony to the One we serve. Let’s live sent—with purpose and on purpose!

 

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Sellers Hickman serves as College Pastor at NorthStar Church and loves cheering on his Ole Miss Rebels. He and his wife, Hannah, live in Dallas, Ga. with their one year old, Emery. He also serves as the chaplain for the KSU Men’s Basketball team.

 

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

1 Peter 2:11 (ESV)

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THE WAR WITHIN

 

If you grew up in church, you probably share the same memory I have of a church camp or D-Now weekend. The speaker would push all week, and in the final sermon, there was a call to die to sin and trust in God. Then there were usually one of three options (likely rotated between camps or speaking tours): to write your sin on a piece of paper, a rock, or a nail. After the sermon, there would be an altar call where you’d place your sin in a fire, throw your rock into the woods, or hammer the nail to a cross.

Why did that moment have so much power? Because the pastor woke you up to the reality that sin was real and prevalent in your life. He brought you face-to-face with the weight of sin. That simple symbolic action felt like the release of a heavy burden, a public declaration of your desire to be free.

But here’s the truth: while those moments are powerful and moving, we often find that once the camp high fades, the sins we tried to throw away find their way back. Why? Because the real battle is ongoing. It’s not just about symbolic gestures but about a daily war against the passions that wage war on our souls.

Notice Peter’s language in this verse. He is urging, pleading, practically begging. Have you ever been begged by someone? Maybe it was a fitness coach urging you to stick to your diet, a friend begging you to binge-watch the latest Netflix series, or an influencer recommending the next big product. Peter’s urging is different. He isn’t concerned with fleeting trends or temporary fixes; he is urging us to engage in the fight of our lives. Peter wants us to wrestle with the desires that pull us away from God.

Peter knew this was not a one-time battle. The language he uses suggests an ongoing struggle. It’s easy for us to be lulled into complacency, to let sin slide when we’re not in the emotional peak of a retreat or actively thinking about it. But sin is always lurking, always waiting for an opportunity to slip back into our hearts and minds.

If we’re honest, it’s much easier to set a plan for paying off debt, achieving a career milestone, or working toward a fitness goal than to wage war on sin. After all, paying off debt has clear steps: create a budget, stick to it, make payments. Gaining a fitness goal? Eat right, exercise, rest, repeat. But fighting sin? That’s an invisible war that requires not just external discipline but also internal, honest reflection.

Sin doesn’t show up on a neat to-do list. It’s subtle. It comes in when we least expect it—whether through a fleeting thought, a lingering temptation, or a moment of weakness. And Peter is urging us to recognize it, confront it, and fight against it.

Here’s the thing: sin is not just an external threat. Peter says these passions “wage war against your soul.” This is deeply personal. Sin wants to destroy you from the inside out. It attacks the soul, the very core of who you are. And as believers, we must take this war seriously. This isn’t just about avoiding bad behavior; it’s about protecting the purity of our souls.

So, what does it look like to fight?

It looks like confession: Regularly bringing our sins to God, acknowledging them, and asking for the grace to overcome them.

It looks like accountability: Having people in our lives who will lovingly urge us to stay on course.

It looks like prayer: Asking God to strengthen us for the battle and to give us a deep desire for holiness.

It looks like reading God’s Word: Filling our hearts and minds with God’s truth so that we can discern the lies of sin when they come.

When is the last time you thought about fighting sin? Maybe it’s time we start again.

 

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Sellers Hickman serves as College Pastor at NorthStar Church and loves cheering on his Ole Miss Rebels. He and his wife, Hannah, live in Dallas, Ga. with their one year old, Emery. He also serves as the chaplain for the KSU Men’s Basketball team.