1 Peter 2:11 – “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from
fleshly lusts which war against the soul.”
I need to be constantly reminded that I don’t belong here. And the One Year Bible reading the past several days has addressed my alien status. Today’s verse uses two words: sojourners and pilgrims to give a little clearer definition to our suspension between two worlds. We’re here but we’re not supposed to act like it. There are things in this world, like fleshly lusts mentioned in our text, that war against our souls. Knowing this is a temporary place should give us an edge to be able to abstain from such vices.
The last several days’ readings keep telling us the same thing. Let me share them with you.
November 23 – 1 Peter 1:17 – “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.” Did you get that? “The time of your stay here…” It’s as if we have checked into a hotel for a little while and one day we’re going to check out. When you’re in a hotel you travel light and take only the things you will need for your short stay. You don’t move your whole wardrobe and your furniture for just a few nights.
November 22 – Psalm 119:19 – “I am a stranger in the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.” Pretty straightforward. The word stranger in this verse means a guest; a foreigner.
November 22 – 1 Peter 1:1 – “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.”
We are travelers with a destination. We are nomads and strangers in this earth. If we will view our stay here as such we will probably have strength to deal with the adversities and the temptations inherent in this world. One day soon it will be check out time. Make sure you’re not weighted down and you’re ready to go.