Reading & Memorising Scripture
Scripture:
- 1 Peter 2:11
Observations:
What stands immediately out to me is how Peter refers to us Christians as "sojourners and exiles". Sojourn means to stay somewhere temporarily. An exile is someone cast out from his own people. These words, in context with the verses immediately above, that we are a chosen people, a people called by God for his possession. gives me the image that this place, this earth is not our home. We are merely moving through, staying temporarily until we can return to our true home.
What is Peter's point in making this statement, though?
Well, firstly, as we can see in this immediate verse, being strangers in this world, we are encouraged to hold onto the things of our true home, that is, heaven, and to remove ourselves of the things of our temporary dwelling, that is, the world. Think of it as someone going to college in a different city and state. They are not making their home in this new place. They are merely sojourning there, staying there for a time. That's why you don't see many students investing greatly in their college home compared to those who've either grown up there or staked their lives there. No their minds and hearts are on their hometown.
That being said, just as each student represents his or her home town and state, we represent our hometown, Heaven, as is alluded to in verse 12: "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."
I had a good friend comment on the difference, though, between the earth and the world. The earth is the physical place we're living in. Earth will be remade. Peter's not saying not to engage in the things of this earth, food, cultural affectations, etc. He's saying not to engage in the things of this world, i.e. sin.
Application:
I need to be engaging with this world and its delights more as someone passing through. Not to be indifferent regarding the affairs of the world and its plights, but to be indifferent to its temptations, keeping myself fixed instead on Christ, remembering Heaven is my home and allegiance. I need to be conscious of Christ in my engagements, taking pains to represent him and to engage in things that bring honour to and are of him.
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The Love Dare
Day 21: Love is Satisfied in God
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